Irish Water has extended the date for people to register to pay for their water.

Householders now have until the end of November to sign up, after the Commission for Energy Regulation accepted a proposal to extend the registration period by a month.

That means the first water bills will be issued to households at the end of January next year, and will include household and children free allowances.

As a result, payments for the first bills will not be due until February - giving households some extra time to prepare for the bills to be paid.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell - who has heavily criticised Irish Water in recent days - has welcomed the move, but says it is not enough in itself:

The application process can be completed in 3 ways 

1.       Online at www.water.ie;

2.       Phone LoCall 1890 448 448 or +353 1 7072824, lines are open from 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week;

3.       Post the completed the application form in the prepaid envelope provided in the pack.