One region of Ireland was twice as likely to report neighbours breaking hose pipe ban

People living in Leinster were almost twice as likely as those in the other provinces to tell on their neighbours.

Analysis showed complaints per 100,000 people were 7.5 in Leinster during the five-week period in when the ban was in place.

That compared to a rate of 4.6 in Munster, 3.1 in Connacht, and just 2.6 in Ulster, although complaints were probably more likely in built-up areas with houses overlooking each other.

The final tally of complaints from the various water restrictions was 439 across the full period in which hosepipe bans were in operation.

Of those, 85 were about people washing their cars, 81 about individuals hosing down driveways and 126 about others watering plants and gardens.

A total of 10 were prompted by people filling their swimming pools.

A further 77 complaints were made to Uisce Éireann about what was described as the commercial use of water, although no further detail was provided on what that might have entailed.

Sixty were listed as "no specifics", according to figures released under Freedom of Information.

The figures also showed that the busiest times for complaints were in the earlier part of the restrictions.

Between 16 and 22 July, 106 reports were made - nearly a quarter of the overall total.

Asked about the records, Uisce Éireann said all restrictions had now been lifted due to an increase in rainfall and the "extraordinary efforts" made by people across the country to conserve water.

An information note said: "These efforts helped to protect local water supplies during one of the hottest summers and driest July on record.

"Overall, the volume of contacts relating to breaches of the Water Conservation Order represented a small portion of overall contacts to our customer care team - less than 1% of total contact volume."