The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy said it is his responsibility to make sure people get their refunds of water charges.

He said he is in conversation with Irish Water on the process of getting that done.

Earlier, a government spokesperson confirmed that it is the Taoiseach's intention to refund all water charges by the end of the year.

The sum involved is around €170m and consists of water charges paid by householders before the charges were abandoned.

It is not yet clear how the refunds will be made and the spokesperson said legislation may be required.

Mr Murphy (above) said it is his intention to make sure the majority of refunds are given before the end of the year although there will be some cases that will take longer if, for instance, people have moved homes.

Close to one million customers of Irish Water paid, or partially paid, water charges before they were ended.

Earlier this year an Oireachtas committee decided to scrap charges and approve refunds.

The Dáil voted to accept the report of the Committee on the Future Funding of Water Services on 13 April.

The water charge regime was introduced under the previous Fine Gael/Labour coalition government.