Irish Water is reportedly being ordered to slash costs and reduce its staff.

According to the Irish Independent, the new board of Irish Water's parent company Ervia will be told to come up with a plan to reduce costs by €85m by 2020.

The Government has given the green light for the company to bring in a voluntary redundancy scheme to reduce its 4,500 workers.

It is also reported that the Department of Social Protection is considering hiring more staff to administer the €100 grant for water charges.

Meanwhile, a man who was arrested in County Clare yesterday after an Irish Water Meter Installer was threatened with a gun has been released without charge.

The man in his 50s had been held at Ennis Garda station following the alleged incident in Clarecastle yesterday morning.

A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.