The Irish Government has published the Framework for the future delivery of water services in Ireland which will see Irish Water become a fully integrated, direct-labour, national utility in public ownership.

The Framework is intended to help to ensure a stable operational environment is maintained as the water sector completes the transition to a national water services authority, based on the full integration of public water services within Irish Water.

To facilitate the transition to a national water services authority, the Framework provides for:

1. Irish Water to assume responsibility for the management and direction of water services operation and activities;

2. The voluntary transfer, of existing local authority water services staff to Irish Water as permanent employees between now and 2026;

3. The identification of opportunities for water services staff not transferring to Irish Water to avail of opportunities to re-deploy to other areas within local authorities;

4. The commencement of water services staff recruitment directly by Irish Water to fill vacancies arising in water services;

5. A voluntary redundancy scheme for local authority water service staff; and

6. A new Irish Water-Local Authority agreement, replacing the existing Service Level Agreement arrangements, to ensure that Irish Water has full accountability for the delivery of water services and direct management of the water services staff who choose to remain employed by their local authority under contract to Irish Water for the transitional period to the end of 2026.

Minister Darragh O’Brien announced the publication of the Framework following an engagement process facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission.

Minister O’Brien said:

"The sustainable development of our public water services in Ireland now requires their full integration within Irish Water as the national water services authority. Only a national authority, backed by strong government investment in water infrastructure, will deliver the standard of water and wastewater networks and environmental management systems required by Irish citizens and consumers in the 21st century. By combining unprecedented public investment with much needed institutional reform, this government is determined to ensure that a world class water services authority will soon be a reality."

The Framework was developed through an engagement process facilitated, at the invitation of the Minister, by the Workplace Relations Commission. The engagement involved the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Irish Water, the County and City Management Association, the Local Government Management Agency, and union representatives.

The Minister continued:

“I am encouraged by the partnership and collaboration shown by all parties to the engagement process. We now have a suitable framework in place to facilitate the enormous transformations that are needed in our water sector and in our local government system in the next few years. The government will continue to work closely with all parties to ensure that the Framework is implemented in a fair and balanced manner that respects the key concerns of all parties, not least the workers.”

“I will continue to work with the County and City Management Association to ensure that local authorities are not left with un-supported financial liabilities as a result of the transformation programme.

“We now have the opportunity to move forward with the integration of our public water services within Irish Water’s organisation structure so that we have a single organisation that is tasked with developing, and fully equipped to deliver, a world class public water system of which Ireland and its citizens can be justifiably proud.”

Irish Water welcomes Framework – utility set to invest €8.8 billion in upgrading and building new water infrastructure

Irish Water has welcomed the publication of the ‘Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services,’ saying:

“The Framework represents the next stage in the process whereby Irish Water will assume full responsibility for the delivery of all public water services..….

“The Framework represents a significant step forward in how water services are delivered, recognising the importance of a single, national strategic approach supported by strong Government funding commitments and proven technical systems and expertise.”

Irish Water said it will be engaging with local authority staff directly over the coming months.

Irish Water will separate from the Ervia Group during 2023.

In line with Government policy, Irish Water will become a fully integrated, direct-labour, national utility in public ownership within which water services staff will work together within a single organisation as a unified team.

The utility is committed to an insourced direct labour operating model for day-to-day activity, with its core services continuing to be delivered by its own workforce. This will be supported by supply chain expertise predominantly delivering specialised services and capital programmes.

Irish Water will be investing approximately €8.8 billion of public monies over the next number of years in upgrading and building new water infrastructure.

Click here to download Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services