Around half a million households eligible for the Water Conservation Grant have yet to apply for it.

The latest figures show that close to 800,000 people have so far signed up for the €100 grant.

The deadline for applications was extended yesterday evening until Thursday October 22nd, due to increased applications in recent days and concerns the postal strike may have impacted on people's ability to apply.

Irish Independent Environment Editor, Paul Melia, says some people aren't applying because they don't want to be on the system: 

Newstalk.com Breakfast Show presenter Ivan Yates asked him if people are right to be worried about their information being shared: "They all talk to each other. I mean Irish Water share information with the Department of Social Protection and other State agencies. They will of course be looking obviously to see when they are sending out further bills and next year then when they are going after people who are refusing to pay, I have no doubt they will be on to the Department."

Listen to the full interview here: