Representatives of and other unions representing local authority staff are due to meet Irish Water management and local authority department next week to continue negotiations on a proposed national water authority.

Two days have been set aside by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to deal with the industrial relations strand of the Irish Water transformation negotiations, and some progress was made on certain aspects of the conditions of employment.

The group of unions recently developed a comprehensive response to the position tabled by management last November, before heading into last month’s negotiations. Fórsa reiterated its opposition to any forced transfer of staff from the local authority sector.

Irish Water and the department are now due to seek clarification on some elements of their proposal.

The group had also constructed an alternative water service delivery model, which would ensure that local authorities continue to have a long-term role in the provision of public water and wastewater services.

Unions had further sought specific assurances around the terms and conditions of workers who remain in local council employment, and for those who transfer voluntarily to a new agency. Fórsa and other unions also want detailed assurances and commitments on a constitutional referendum, the future of local authorities, and on the governance of the new water entity.

Fórsa and other union representatives previously welcomed Minister Darragh O’Brien’s acceptance of four broad strands sought by the unions, as well as confirmation that there would be no forced transfer of staff to a new centralised water service.

The Government has proposed that the centralised service would take on current local authority water activities.