Anti-water charge campaigners have accused Irish Water of harassing customers over unpaid bills.

A spokesperson for Irish Water has confirmed the utility has begun the process of proactively contacting people who have an outstanding balance on their account.

Irish Water says it is aiming to work with customers so water bills can be included in household budgets.

However the utility says it 'absolutely refutes' any suggestion that customers have been contacted based on their age profile.

In recent weeks Irish Water has confirmed just 50% of bills have been paid.

It says the process is being conducted within strict guidelines set out by the regulator.

The utility says, "Irish Water takes very seriously suggestions that people are being threatened with having their water supply cut off. This is absolutely not the case.

"Irish Water is prohibited from disconnecting houses connected to the public water supply in the event of charges being wholly or partly unpaid," the statement adds.

However, anti-water charges campaigner Deputy Paul Murphy says people should refuse to engage with the company:

The Environment Minister Alan Kelly has said "one way or the other, everyone will end up having to pay" their Irish Water bill.

However Fianna Fáil says the Government will go down in history for introducing a tax that will cost them money.