Northern Ireland households will have to pay water charges from 2009, it was announced today.
They will be phased in over two years from April 2009, but the Executive has decided there will be no double charging as planned under direct rule.
Water charges will be introduced in the North in 2009
It has accepted a report on water charges that said people already paid an average of £160 for water through rates bills and that should be taken into account.
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said the Executive had accepted the recommendation of the review panel that from 2008/09 there should be recognition that domestic regional rates revenue made a contribution to the funding of water and sewerage services.
"In 2008/09, this [£160] will be households' only contribution to the services; the balance will be paid from the Northern Ireland Bloc. This represents the Executive's commitment to tackling the inequality of double charging."
However, he said the Executive had accepted proposals that consumers should pay an increased contribution to cover the true costs of water and sewerage services. It is proposed that extra payments would be introduced in 2009/10.
PA