Support for water refunds grows in Cabinet

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing mounting pressure to refund Irish Water customers who paid their bills, with growing calls for rebates from within Cabinet, as well as from many of his own TDs.

However, Mr Kenny last night tried to defer any decision on paying back bills until next March, by saying a Dáil vote would by then decide on refunds for almost a million people who have paid some bills.

Cabinet colleagues Shane Ross and Finian McGrath want a system of refunds for bill-payers after an expert commission on water this week proposed most homes should get water for free.