Dear Colleague,
Following on from the issuing of the WRC Framework for future delivery of water services in June 2022, the local authority sector has engaged in discussions with Irish Water and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with regard to the next steps in the transition to a national water services authority. This will include a new Master Co-Operation agreement which will provide Irish Water with full accountability for Water Services functions and the necessary management and direction of water services staff who choose to remain employed by their local authority. Irish Water has advised that the transition of service responsibility and accountability will be undertaken in tranches of local authorities, with this exercise expected to be completed across all local authority areas by the 30th June 2023. There will be no change from the 1st January 2023 and Irish Water will work with each local authority to nominate the date on which this transition will happen. Once these dates are confirmed, staff in the individual local authorities will be informed in advance of same. Irish Water will, in preparation for this transition, be commencing an engagement with local authorities to gather the appropriate data which will be required as part of the transition.
When the drafting of the Master Co-Operation Agreement has been concluded between the sector and Irish Water, it will then be the subject of engagement between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Unions representing local authority water services employees.
We appreciate that the transition to Irish Water/Uisce Éireann as the new water services authority will provide challenges to all of us. During this transition period water services staff who decide to remain local authority employees will continue to do so, and any reassignment to new roles will be in accordance with the provisions of the WRC framework.
Kind regards,
Ann Doherty,
Chief Executive,
Cork City Council
