The Tánaiste says the Government will not be bound by any timetable to unveil the final cost of the water charge.

Eamon Gilmore and his Labour ministers are in no rush to reveal the final cost to households, despite the government pledge that it would come before the local and European elections.

It comes amid mounting protests against the installation of water meters with Irish Water contractors blocked in Cork and Dublin in recent days.

Local residents of Watermill Drive in Raheny, Dublin block an Irish Water van

Residents in Togher, Co. Cork began demonstrating earlier this week when they blocked metering in the Ashbrook Estate - and last night the protests spread to Raheny in Dublin.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore says there are many issues to be resolved before the final charge can be set.

Earlier, the Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes said the protests are being co-ordinated by local election candidates. 

Senior minister Joan Burton is calling on protesters disrupting the installation of water meters to treat workers with "respect and dignity".

Irish Water workers are confronted by local residents & supporters in Watermill Drive in Raheny, Dublin

The Social Protection Minister says she had hoped metering would have been carried out a lot quicker in recent months.

She says contractors should be allowed to carry out their work.

Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald says targeting contractors is not acceptable.

Protestors in Cork are undeterred this morning, where efforts to install meters at the Ashbrook Estate are still at a standstill.

Irish Water workers entered Ashbrook Heights early this morning but residents are not allowing them begin work on the site.

One resident, Suzanne O'Flynn has been speaking to the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's Red FM.

While in Dublin, Irish Water contractors have left an estate on the north side of the city following a protest. The demonstration took place at Watermill Drive in Raheny after a resident rallied locals via social media.

This protester described the scene earlier.

Meanwhile, Minister Richard Bruton has described water charges as a tax for the first time, on Newstalk Breakfast.