The amount paid by households in water charges has fallen by over a fifth, according to new figures from Irish Water.

The fall in the amount being paid, means Irish Water took in barely half the amount it expected to raise from water charges.

Domestic water bills resulted in revenue of just over €144 million in their first year - around 53% of what Irish Water had expected to get.

Irish Water's statement also appears to diverge from government policy - by claiming charges were suspended as of the end of March. 

The Fine Gael-Fianna Fail arrangement intended to bring legislation through the Dail so that charges would actually be suspended from the end of June - allowing for one further bill.

The former minister in charge at the time has blamed comments by a Fine Gael minister for driving down the payment rate.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: