Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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1051. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the position regarding security of employment for permanent staff of local authorities, who were transferred, under the Water Services Act to Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37590/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Irish Water has entered into service level agreements (SLA) with each of the 31 authorities for the provision of water services. Staff in local authorities working under these arrangements remain local authority employees. The SLA reflects the transformation agenda required for the water sector and makes provision for annual service plans to be agreed between Irish Water and the relevant local authority setting out the required performance, budgets and headcount to deliver the service. The length of the service level agreement and the fact that the agreement will include a programme of change are reflected in a Framework document, agreed with the Trade Unions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, and which is available on my Department’s website. This agreement and the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provide that, in the event of an SLA coming to an end, the staff covered by the SLA will become Irish Water employees and their terms and conditions and superannuation arrangements will be protected by legislation. 

Local authority and Departmental staff who have taken up employment with Irish Water are currently working on a secondment basis pending the establishment of the superannuation arrangements provided for under the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013.