Sinn Féin is claiming that the company currently installing water metres in Dublin has told its contractors that work will stop at the end of this week.

The party's environment spokesperson Brian Stanley said he's received information that GMC Sierra has told sub-contractors that they will no longer be engaged after this Friday.

"From information that I have received it would appear that Sierra, the main contractor for the installation of water meters in Dublin, has told sub-contractors that they will no longer be engaged after Friday this week," he wrote in a party-issued statement.

He claims the decision has been taken because delays in the installation process have led to large additional costs which are no longer sustainable for the company.

Irish Water, however, is insisting that its water metering programme is continuing in Dublin.

In a statement, Irish Water's parent company Ervia said metering in Dublin city has not come to a halt, but said it cannot comment on the specifics of its contracts with third parties for confidentiality reasons.

Deputy Stanley is calling on Minister Alan Kelly to make a statement.

Meanwhile in the Dáil, Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the treatment of workers installing meters as sinister.

"I find it strange that workers who go about their legitimate business in installing water meters, which are a measure of being able to reduce water consumption and therefore beat the cap, are being told … by some of the Anti Austerity Alliance people who they are, where they live, and that they should be very careful.

"I find that very sinister."