The government has confirmed that water charges will be capped at €160 per household for at least four years.

The Environment Minister Alan Kelly told the Dáil yesterday that the existing charges will be scrapped and replaced by a new regime in January.

Homes with a single adult will have their bills capped at €160 a year - but homes who do not register will be given standard bills of €260 a year.

All water households will also receive water conservation grant of €100.

PPS numbers will no longer be required for registration, and those that were already taken will be destroyed.

Registration with Irish Water extended until February 2nd and water charges will not begin until January of next year.

Mr Kelly says he will draw a line between those who cannot pay, and those who will not.

This morning, Chris Donoghue and Ivan Yates discussed the changes to the water regime and the concern that the Government have bowed to the protests on every issue with Ivan stating that they waved a "white feather" and that the "lunatics have taken over the asylum".

They also spoke to Karey McHugh, who is an Independent councillor with Galway County Council, about the water charges, with Ivan asking her did she think that water was a right: