‘Difficult’ to deduct €100 grant from water refunds

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said it will be very difficult to deduct the €100 conservation grant from refunds due to be paid to households that paid water charges.

Mr Varadkar yesterday restated his comments that households who paid their charges can look forward to getting their refund before Christmas.

However, his comments have caused alarm and confusion within Government as to how the refunds will be financed, with some ministers refusing to hand money back from their department to contribute.