It has emerged that the costs of setting up Irish Water are almost twice the average of similar entities in England and Wales.

The company is defending the costs, saying the UK companies have existed for 25 years and have become efficient over that time.

In a statement, Irish Water says the system here has suffered from decades of under investment and it will take time to catch up with our UK counterparts.

It is estimated Irish Water will cost around €180m to set up.

Sinn Fein environment spokesperson, Brian Stanley, says taxpayers are funding what he calls a 'corporate monster':

Meanwhile, concerns are being expressed over the water charges facing the parents of 18-year-olds who are still in school.

The National Parents Council says the teenagers will not qualify for child allowances, and they won't be entitled to a social welfare payment unless they leave school.

Its post-primary group is warning it will contribute to a growing sense in working class families that 18 or 19-year-olds are better off 'signing on', than finishing school.

The Council wants all school-goers to be exempt from water charges.

Proposed water charges will see households paying an average of €238 per year for water and wastewater services. There will be a free allowance of 30,000 litres per household, with an extra allowance of 21,000 per child up to the age of 18.

Originally posted 10:21 am