Tánaiste Joan Burton has said the impact of water charges will be eased for the vast majority of people by the payment of a water conservation or water support payment.
She said this will be paid on a quarterly basis through the Department of Social Protection or allocated as a tax credit.
Speaking in Galway this morning, the Minister for Social Protection said the Government was working on the detail of how these allowances would tie in with a water payment structure.
The minister said final charges would be "modest" for individuals or families.
She said she accepted that the issue of water charges was difficult for people, but that the benefit of an improved water supply would bring a huge economic and social return to the country.
Ms Burton said she had appointed Alan Kelly as Minister for the Environment to resolve the issues that surrounded the establishment of Irish Water.
She said she was delighted that he had laid to rest the prospect of people having their water supply cut if they did not pay their bills.
Ms Burton said this would never have been allowed and was never envisaged by the Labour Party.
The Tánaiste also said she believed people would be convinced of the importance of paying the fees.
She said if people still refused, then the water charges would become a debt that people would have to address.
She said that she expected Irish Water would use the "normal procedures" to collect debts.
Ms Burton said she was also concerned about some "fringe elements" involved in the campaign against water charges.
She expects the final fee structure will be finalised in the next fortnight.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton has said raising income tax to pay for water charges would kill employment and was not an option he would support.
Speaking at the C&D foods plant in Longford where he was announcing 70 new jobs Mr Bruton said he had confidence in CEO of Irish Water John Tierney and the Government would move next week to clarify the future arrangements for everyone.
Minister admits people should be concerned over privatisation
Minister of State for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch has admitted that people should be concerned about the possible privatisation of Irish Water.
Speaking in Limerick earlier, Ms Lynch said the Government must reassure people that their water supply will remain in the ownership of the people of Ireland.
"Whether or not Irish Water can be sold into private ownership in the future should be a concern to people. Whether or not a referendum is needed to do that I'm undecided," she said.
"We may be able to do it through firmer and tighter legislation whereby it would take an act of the Oireachtas in order to have that privatisation take place.
"I'm not certain which of those two routes would be the best place. But we need to reassure people that in the future their water supply will be in the ownership of the people of Ireland."
Murphy says Govt is 'in crisis'
Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy has said Mr Kelly's comments on sanctions against those who do not pay water charges are proof that the Government is in massive crisis and on the back foot.
Mr Kelly said yesterday he did not want householders to have their water pressure cut off or reduced if they do not pay their charges.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Murphy said it was the Government who chose to give Irish Water the ability to reduce pressure in the legislation establishing the utility.
He said: "I welcome the fact they have said they are not going to reduce people's pressure.
"I think that will strengthen the boycott. It will strengthen the non-payment campaign.
"I also think it is a reflection of the reality that they recognise that they are having massive difficulty imposing water meters on people who don't want them."
Elsewhere, Minister for Social Protection and Reform Brendan Howlin said the Government will announce a comprehensive package "soon" that will address all the issues raised by people.
He said it will give certainty on the method of payment, which will be affordable and does not shock people, but made no comment about what sanctions will be open to Irish Water if people refuse to pay.
Separately, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar called on those campaigning against water charges to condemn any use of violence during protests.
He said people involved in opposition to water charges should be unequivocal in their condemnation of anyone who brings violence into the campaign.
GRA members subjected to 'threats'
The Garda Representative Association has gardaí have been subjected to threats to their personal safety and property both directly and online as a result of the water protests.
The organisation said its members work with peaceful protesters, but what it calls this "darker element" is to be condemned by the public, media and political leaders.
It said it has seen steadily increasing assaults on members, which is an unacceptable.
It has also raised concern that the uniform no longer offers democratic protection.
GRA president Dermot O'Brien said the association has asked garda management to step up resources to protect its members from threats to their personal safety.
He said gardaí appreciate that there is public anger, but this should not be directed at individual members of An Garda Síochána, who are workers directed by their supervisors to uphold our laws.
Water meter installation continuing
Meanwhile, Irish Water has said that water meter installation has not been cancelled or postponed.
In a statement it said installation "is continuing across the country"
It said: "We aim to put in 27,000 meters monthly and this week we have put in 8,000. Our metering programme is ahead of schedule.
"Irish Water does not provide details of where and when metering is taking place, except to the directly affected customers.
"There have been a number of occasions where the protests have escalated at individual work sites and have impacted on the health and safety of workers on these sites, necessitating, in some instances, the withdrawal of our staff.
"This has not affected the pace of the overall metering programme. The safety of our staff is paramount.
"Irish Water would request that the contractor's staff be treated with dignity and be allowed to carry out their work in a safe and dignified manner."
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