Ms Maria Graham:

Perhaps I had two different issues in my head. I will clarify the matter. There are some costs raised with us that Irish Water is currently funding, such as pension costs of past water services staff. If the service level agreements come to an end, the question of who pays for that must be addressed. It would potentially be a switching of funding and be cost-neutral. It is an area we will look at and it has been raised by local authorities.

We are at an early stage with respect to staffing. There is a process outlined in the legislation that mentions staff being designated and the protection of worker terms and conditions, as we alluded to. The framework agreement we have with the trade unions indicates that notwithstanding that legislative protection and process, the parties can agree alternative arrangements. In the context of agreeing alternative arrangements, which could be redeployment, as the Deputy suggests, the issues of cost and impact would arise.