Some form of exemption from water charges for those on boil notices could be on the way.
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil that the regulator will deal with this issue when the level of charges is announced in the next week or so.
Mr Kenny also says the average charge will be €238.
The Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin described as "monstrous" that 36,000 homes with contaminated water should have to pay for it.
And Mr Kenny hinted that some relief might be on the way.
Meanwhile the Environment Minister Alan Kelly has defended the money spent by Irish Water on set-up costs.
The new utility has spent more than €180m on setting up the company.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has approved more than €192m of the spend, which will form part of the charges passed onto households.
Mr Kelly has been quizzed in the Dáil about the approval by his predecessor - Phil Hogan - on the costs to establish the firm.
He says he fully accepts the decision of the regulator.
