Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) talks on the future of Ireland’s water services have adjourned to allow management consider union proposals for incentives to encourage staff to voluntarily transfer from local authorities to a single national water provider.

Fórsa official Dessie Robinson said management had accepted the need to incentivise staff as most currently want to remain in local authority employment, while both the Government and Irish Water want a single authority. Unions are adamant that there will be no compulsory transfer of workers to a centralised water supplier.

Unions say staff must be guaranteed to keep their existing pay and conditions, including pension benefits, if they transfer. They also suggested to the WRC that a payment should be offered to encourage workers to move, and that an incentivised voluntary redundancy scheme should be put in place.

While no agreement has been reached on such a package, management are now considering the proposals. Fórsa and other unions are awaiting their response.