The deputy leader of Sinn Fein Mary-Lou McDonald has said her party is not opposed to Irish Water and accepts that the utility 'exists'.

But Ms McDonald has hit out at a system of what she calls "double taxation" - where people are taxed generally, and then taxed separately for water.

Irish Water is in the process of sending out application packs to households around the country, with the first bills expected to arrive in January.

The average charge is expected to be €238.

The utility has come in for recent criticism over the costs of setting it up - which are almost twice the average of similar entities in England and Wales - and also for requesting the PPS numbers of children.

Ms McDonald has told Newstalk Lunchtime that while her party is not opposed to the water utility itself, they will be setting out their alternative plans within the next 10 days.