The Government will in the next two weeks publish details of the free water allowance householders can expect before charges start in January next year, the Dáil has heard.

The water regulator will not announce until August this year its final decision on water charges, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has said. But he said he would bring proposals to Government on the free water allowance "shortly".

Pressed by Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Barry Cowen for clarity on the date and on the level of funding the Government would provide, the Minister said: "When I say shortly, it will be in the next couple of weeks, when we have our submission ready from Government to give to the CER [Commission for Energy Regulation]".

Mr Hogan said the free allowance and level of exchequer funding the Government would provide had a strong bearing on the net charge to be met by householders.

There had been a lot of consultation on the issue and the Government would have no difficulty making the information available before any election. But the average free allowance would be known before the regulator begins a public consultation next month, Mr Hogan added.

“But we do need patience,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of consultation in relation to this matter.”

Mr Cowen said: “It’s very hard to have patience when you look at the manner in which this whole process has been handled and the way in which public funds have been used and abused in arriving at this juncture.

“And we’re no further on because of the veil of secrecy that has engulfed this whole process since day one.”

The Minister reminded him that it was a Fianna Fáil-led government that decided to introduce the water charges in agreement with the troika.

“We actually have got on with the work and we will have the Government decisions required in good time for the regulator to be able to publish a consultation document in April.”