Water workers who have applied for voluntary redundancy under the Framework for the future delivery of water services, and have had an offer accepted, will depart their local authority by agreement before 31st December 2024. In exceptional circumstances, this departure date may be extended by agreement to 31st March 2025.

The voluntary redundancy scheme is provided for under the Framework for the future delivery of water services, which outlines the transfer of water services from local authorities to Uisce Éireann, and how this will be managed from June 2022 until 31st December 2026. It works to facilitate the exit of local authority workers who, since 1st January 2024 are under the direction of Uisce Éireann and who do not want to become an employee of Uisce Éireann or who do not wish to be reassigned to an alternative role within their local authority. Applications for this scheme closed on the 30th September 2024. 

Head of Local Government and Local Services and the Municipal Employees’ Divisions Richy Carrothers explained that as Úisce Éireann continues to rollout their new structure. Local authority water workers may choose to remain within the employment of their local authority by way of reassignment. 

“The voluntary redundancy scheme is an integral part of the framework and one we have worked hard for. Importantly, there are no compulsory redundancies and workers continue to have choices available to them in terms of reassignment within their local authority or to transition or redeploy to Uisce Éireann. Water services staff opting to stay within their local authority will be reassigned to work within grade as per the agreement,” he said. 

Uisce Éireann has conducted several meetings across all 31 local authority areas over the last 24 months to outline the process for water services staff to transfer to the new national utility. 

A meeting of the high-level Irish Water Consultative Group (IWCG) is scheduled for 24th January 2025. This group is made of representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) group, local authority water services trade unions, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Uisce Éireann, the LGMA and County Council Management Agency, and continues to work to manage the transition of water service workers. 

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