The Minister for the Environment has moved to assure householders that water services should be back to normal across the country within two days.

John Gormley has warned though that restrictions in the capital may have to remain in place for around 12 days to replenish reservoir levels there.

A number of local authorities however say they will struggle to restore normal supplies in the next two days – but work is ongoing to fix burst mains and leaking pipes.

Dublin City Council is to ease restrictions from 2pm today and won’t impose further shut downs until 4 o’clock tomorrow afternoon – in an effort to facilitate New Year’s festivities.

Minister Gormley also defended the government’s handling and funding of the water crisis: