The Tánaiste and the Junior Finance Minister have indicated that water charges will not come into effect next January.

It's understood ministers are concerned about a possible backlash from the public about the new tax coming so soon after the introduction of the controversial property tax.

But Eamon Gilmore and Brian Hayes say the metering system will not be in place by next January - and therefore it's unlikely water charges will be implemented by then.

This is in stark contrast to what the Environment Minister Phil Hogan said last week, when he confirmed that water charges would be levied from the beginning of 2014.

It is Minister Hogan's department that is charged with implementing the new system of water charges.