Fórsa met with Minister Darragh O’Brien on Tuesday (11th October) to discuss issues surrounding the Framework for the Future Delivery of Water Services.

The group of unions representing water workers had sought an urgent meeting to address reports of Local Authority Management withdrawing from the Service Level Agreements currently in place between Irish Water and each Local Authority. These agreements are in place to provide for the filling in of vacancies as they arise in water services in Local Authorities.

The head of Fórsa’s Municipal Employees Division and Local Government Division, Richy Carrothers, said the meeting was useful and that the Minister took the opportunity “to reiterate his support” for the Framework negotiated under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Fórsa said all parties must adhere to the Framework agreement and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have a particular responsibility to ensure that both Irish Water and the Local Authorities meet their obligations.

“I made it clear that we require action to fill Local Authority Water vacancies – some of which have been outstanding for an ordinate period of time,” said Richy.

“The Department must recommit that everyone on the employers side will adhere in full with the Framework and finally, it is essential that the Government name the date in 2023 for the referendum to enshrine public ownership of water into the constitution.

“We have requested written clarification on these matters,” he added.

Fórsa previously reported that there currently remained a deadlock between Irish Water and the CCMA on the filling of water service vacancies.

To that end, unions engaged with the Department seeking their intervention to progress a resolution to the impasse but were completely dissatisfied with the response and the lack of willingness to intervene proactively.

This led the group to seek the urgent meeting with the Minister on Tuesday.