Last month the Fórsa bulletin reported on the new framework document on the future of water services. This following a lengthy and protracted process in the Workplace Relatiosn Commission (WRC) between the ICTU group of local authority unions and representatives of local authority management, Irish Water and the local government department. 

The Framework gives members choice and protections which underpinned the strategy adopted by the unions, and it will ensure that:

• There will be no compulsory transfers of staff to Irish Water
• There will be no compulsory redundancies
• Local authority water workers will have the option of transferring to Irish Water on a voluntary basis
• Existing pay is protected, with the chance to earn more through individual or collective Irish Water performance rewards
• Existing pension benefits are legally protected, with all local authority service taken into account for pension purposes
• Other working conditions, including hours of work, annual leave, sick pay, allowances, overtime, and work location will also remain the same or be enhanced
• Staff who transfer to Irish Water will receive a €3,000 incentive payment,
• Local authority water workers can also opt to remain in local authority employment on their existing terms and conditions
• There is a voluntary redundancy option for local authority water workers
• Collective bargaining rights will remain in place.

Led by Fórsa, the unions also insisted that wider issues – including the governance of Irish water, the future of the local government and a referendum to keep water in public ownership – still had to be fully addressed.

On foot of this, the local government department released a further document called Irish water transformation: the wider policy context earlier this week. It deals with the issues we raised, and much of the content is welcome.

It commits to a referendum on the public ownership on water, and says it will likely take place next year. As a group of unions, we have already exercised significant influence on the State commitment to the referendum. But we will be keeping a close eye on any legislation to ensure it’s fit for purpose.

The Government has also approved the publication of the Water Services Bill 2022, which establishes Uisce Éíreann as a State body and “national authority for water services.” It provides scrutiny roles for the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee. And the minister has also confirmed that there will be an ICTU nominee on the board.

Enshrined in our constitution is the simple principle that strong, effective local government is the foundation of a prosperous and progressive society. The third strand in this document focuses on the future of local government.

Here, the document is light on detail and commitment and it fails to detail meaningful plans to reinvigorate the sector. Nonetheless, it opens the door to further dialogue and policy engagement.

Across Europe we have evidence of successful insourcing – taking back services in-house and delivering them for local people based on need rather than profit. Average public spending on local government across the EU runs at over 23% compared to the 8% in Ireland. The document fails to recognise that local government in Ireland is poor in relation to its European counterparts.

Austerity, privatisation, and centralisation have hollowed out our public services and stripped local authorities and local communities of their democratic power. Ireland has the worst level of local representation and the weakest local government of any country in Europe.

Local government is essentially the greatest interrelationship between the State and its people. The latest offering on the revitalisation of the sector from Government is disappointing. It is an opportunity lost to reimagine local democracy and local service provision.

For our part, Fórsa will be redoubling our efforts to make local government a priority across the political spectrum. We will be building a coalition of the willing, who understand why local government is important and care about making it better and more democratic. Watch out for further information.

Richy Carrothers is head of Fórsa’s Local Government and Local Services Division, and head of the union’s Municipal Employees’ Division.