Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2012
19 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his timeframe for establishing Irish Water; the anticipated job losses that may result from the shift of water services from local authorities to the new company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13231/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe initial transition strategy for the establishment of Irish Water as a public utility as recommended in the independent assessment envisages a staged approach involving local authorities acting as agents of Irish Water for a period with Irish Water taking over their operations on a phased basis from January 2015, and the full transfer of operations being completed by end 2017. It will ultimately be a matter for Irish Water to determine the staffing and skills required for the new organisation.
In the initial phase, Irish Water will work largely through service level agreements with local authorities. This will ensure a smooth transition to the new model and guard against the loss of local expertise. As Irish Water will be a public sector body, considerable protection will be provided by law for staff transferring to Irish Water from local authorities. These issues will be further considered in the development of an implementation plan which will address transformation planning, including human resources issues, and will be the subject of discussion with local authorities, staff and the Unions to ensure that the change is managed well.
The overall water reforms the Government has planned will create 2,000 construction related jobs in the economy on an ongoing basis. This will be achieved through the planned roll-out of a universal programme of water metering this year which will lead to the creation of up to 2,000 jobs for the three year duration of the metering installation programme. Once the metering programme has been completed, a steady level of capital investment of potentially €600 million per annum in water services, facilitated through the new public utility will see this level of construction employment sustained on an ongoing basis through capital investment in new infrastructure.
