Irish Water has announced a reduction in the water restriction programme in the Dublin area this weekend.

The company says supplies will be maintained to customers across Dublin county, the bulk of Dublin city centre, as well Wicklow, Meath and Kildare.

In general, restrictions will only apply to areas where the system has been set up to support the increased output of water from the Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant.

Irish Water says this will have some impact in the north inner city, parts of Dublin 8, South Circular Rd, Lower Drumcondra and areas in Crumlin and Walkinstown.

Latest figures show 2,450 customers around the country have no water supply, 30,216 have a restricted supply and a 'do not drink' notice remains in place for around 12,000 customers in the Fethard area of Co Tipperary.

Earlier, the General Manager of Irish Water said that some water restrictions will continue for the "foreseeable future", following the damage caused by Storm Emma.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Eamon Gallen said that, while a huge number of leaks have been repaired in recent days, restrictions remain in place as reservoirs are much lower than they need to be.

He said: "Probably until April, maybe even May, we will still be suffering.

"Leakage at the moment is at 39%, it is years and years of work to get that down to sustainable levels."

He added: "Some areas like Kildare and Fingal have already recovered but we will be looking at this for some time to come."

Mr Gallen said the company is looking at alternative sources to feed the Fethard system for sanitary purposes, but it will take until the week beginning 19 March for the plant to be up and running again.

He said that Irish Water is piping some water that can be consumed but people need to follow local notices.

Elsewhere, Mr Gallen said that, while it is expected some water restrictions around the country will remain in place for a considerable amount of time, most homes will have their notices lifted by next week.