The Cabinet is today expected to agree a short delay in the introduction of water charges as part of a new package of measures to be announced tomorrow.

A cap of at least four years will form part of the package with final bills expected to be less than €200 a year for families.

Billing will not now start until January instead of from the start of October as previously announced which means it will be April before the first bills arrive at homes.

Under the plan to be finalised today and announced tomorrow average, bills for a one person household would be €176, or €278 for a home of two adults or more - both of these could then be reduced by €100 when an allowance or rebate is applied for.

The Government also plans to leave these flat or capped charges in place for at least four years - but it's understood if people's meters offer them an even cheaper option, that will be facilitated.

Among the issues still to be debated by Cabinet is how to collect the charge from those who refuse to pay it.

The final details will be outlined in the Dáil tomorrow afternoon ahead of a debate that will run tomorrow night, all day Thursday and a vote will take place on a Government motion.

Shane Coleman discusses what the impact of the protests over the last few days will have: