Written answers

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Irish Water

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the stated intentions of Bord Gáis, as set out in an interview (details supplied), to recruit their own staff to run Irish Water including setting up a call centre and hiring head office staff, the position of the 3,000 staff currently employed within the local authority sector in the water area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43739/12]

Photo of Mick WallaceMick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the recruitment plans of Bord Gáis for Irish Water for the remainder of 2012; if these recruitment plans will include taking on the local authority staff currently working in the water area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43740/12]

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

The Government decided, based on the recommendations of an independent assessment and in line with the commitment in the programme for Government, to establish a public water utility company, Irish Water, to take over the operational and capital delivery functions of local authorities in the water services area. The Government has further decided that Irish Water should be established as an independent subsidiary of the Bord Gáis Group. The skills within the Bord Gáis Group will be paired with the experience and commitment to service in local authorities and the specific water and wastewater capabilities and expertise that exist in local government to build the new organisation and ensure its successful establishment and operation.

In the initial phase, Irish Water will work largely through service level agreements with local authorities. These arrangements will not end until 2017 at the earliest. This will ensure a smooth transition to the new model and guard against the loss of local expertise. It will also mean that the majority of staff will remain in the direct employment of local authorities for a considerable period. There will be detailed engagement with Staff and Trade Unions in the rollout of the proposed changes. Structures have been put in place to facilitate this engagement. There will be also be some new functions associated with changes to the organisational delivery and funding model. Bord Gáis will be responsible for obtaining the necessary expertise to fill these roles.

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