Ms AnnMarie Farrelly:

I acknowledge that we have a good and skilled workforce operating the Leixlip treatment plant. We have skilled and experienced engineers who know the plant well. They know what the differences are between the old and the new systems and in how the system must operate on a 24-hour basis to maintain the water supply produced at the plant. There is a recruitment process under way to recruit a plant operator, but five of the six positions have been filled. The recruitment process ended yesterday.

The vacancy will be filled quickly. As the range of other skills required at the plant is available, there is no shortage right now. It is difficult for every local authority to maintain experienced staff for Irish Water duties. As staff retire, we are generally finding it more and more difficult to recruit and fill positions. Right now the treatment plant is staffed satisfactorily.