Northern Ireland's new government-owned water company has put on hold plans to install water meters, it was revealed today.
Northern Ireland Water said the installation of water meters in new homes and the houses of pensioners who had applied for them will not take place until power sharing ministers at Stormont have decided how water and sewerage services will be funded in the future.
The decision by Northern Ireland Water prompted Assembly Regional Development Committee chairperson Fred Cobain to call on the devolved executive to also put on hold the £75 million it was due to give the new Government-owned company.
Stormont ministers two weeks ago authorised regional development minister Conor Murphy to defer for a year the introduction of controversial water charges.
The Sinn Féin minister also announced that he was planning a review on the future of water and sewerage services.
He said the review would examine whether the Government-owned company set up by his Northern Ireland Office predecessor during direct rule was the best model for delivering services.
Officials have warned that if the review, which is due to report back in the autumn, recommends a different model, it will require legislation to replace Northern Ireland Water, which came into being in April.