There are more hints about efforts to ease the impact of water charges, with one day to go until Budget 2015 is unveiled. 

It is understood the Finance Minister will unveil tax and welfare changes to ease the burden of the charge on low and middle income families.

A new relief package is being prepared with a water-related tax credit for low income earners, and new rules for more people to qualify for welfare payments that offset the new charges.

It is said to have been agreed before Saturday's mass protests in Dublin city centre where tens of thousands of people called for water charges to be scrapped.

According to the Irish Times, low and middle income earners will also see a cut in the Universal Social Charge.

Thousands took to the streets at the weekend to protest the new water charges: