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Irish Water will consider extending October 31 deadline for applications

The utility also apologised for the long waits some customers are experiencing when contacting the helpline.

IRISH WATER WILL consider extending the deadline of 31 October for applications.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio 1′s Drivetime, Head of Communications Elizabeth Arnett said that a decision will be made coser to the date.

She was unable to give any indication of how many applications have so far been processed, saying that she didn’t want to be misleading.

“We’ve only just finished posting out the applications to people, we’ve only just found out the price of water,” Arnett told the programme.

She said the utility apologises for the delay some customers have experienced when calling Irish Water helplines, but said the average length of call was seven minutes.

“Since the the start of the year we’ve taken 350,000 customer calls,” Arnett said, “In the last fortnight, we’ve received almost 100,000. We have a high volume, but it’s not an excuse. We’re in a unique phase in our set-up”.

A number of TDs have taken to contacting Irish Water on Twitter, frustrated they have been unable to get through on the phone. Arnett noted that a separate route of communication exists for members of the Oireachtas.

The utility was forced to backtrack yesterday over a tweet that said landlords would be liable for water charges if tenants didn’t paid.

Today it was confirmed that tenants would still be liable.

Originally published 10.01pm

Read: Taoiseach denies misleading the Dáil over Irish Water bonus claims >

More: Why are gardaí wearing cameras at water meter protests? >

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