'We're out of the game' Laois authority handing over water services
The future response times for water leaks or shortages in Laois is not guaranteed, Laois County Council's CEO has said.
Laois councillors have expressed concern that the same reliable rapid local responses to water emergencies may suffer when Uisce Eireann takes over all operations from local authorities in 2027.
Uisce Eireann, the new name for Irish Water, is taking over all services that up to now were contracted out to local authorities, leaving the council water staff to do the same jobs they always had, paid by the council.
Now staff must decide if they want to transfer their jobs to UI or keep with Laois County Council.
CEO John Mulholland has said "we're out of the game".
"We don't know what's in the minds of Uisce Eireann if they take over. They will operate in the same way as the gas or ESB. They will decide what way to operate. We're out of the game. It will be a matter to be picked up with Uisce Eireann, to keep local communication in place," Mr Mulholland said.
He was answering queries at the May meeting of Laois County Council.
Cllr Willie Aird was worried for the water staff as well as Laois fire fighters, who are also part of the SIPTU union, all facing strike action to improve their work and pay conditions.
"What's the position regarding water maintenance people? they have the option to go work with Irish Water or Laois County Council. They are going on strike because they say the council is not looking after them the same way. We have an obligation to look after them.
"There is concern for the fire brigades. We introduced a rota here in Portlaoise, they can't be on duty all the time, it's not acceptable. We don't do it as councillors or officials.
"The rota is gone again because numbers are falling. It's not fair in 2023 on these men and women. We have to have a rota system. If you don't you will end up with no-one. There is no family would accept that. I'm very concerned. I always had people coming to me looking for references, that seems to have dried up. How many have we on the list wanting to become fire fighters?" Cllr Aird asked.
Director of Services Simon Walton who is in charge of Laois County Fire & Rescue Service, said he did not know why the fire service is threatening strikes.
"I'm not going on strike. I'm trying to be proactive. In January 2022 Portlaoise station was chosen for a pilot rota, a more family friendly rota. It is still ongoing, the reason it continued is because they are so happy with it," he said.
Mr Mulholland added that it was "a sensitive issue regarding staff".
"There are two transition programmes of change affecting them. Irish Water began in 2012 now it is taking over complete functions of local authorities. Any negotiations are done on a collective basis between unions and Uisce Eireann, in the workplace relations commission. If unions give notice to strike they have their own reasons and I'm not going to comment on that.
"The commission does acknowledge that times have changed, with the standards fire fighters have to achieve. This is all subject to review and will come about through face to face discussions with the department and SIPTU," the CEO said.
Cllr Padraig Fleming urged that the same level of emergency response and contactability remain when Uisce Eireann takes over.
"Water is essential. There has to be a structure there for a 24 hour callout because that is what Laois County Council has given us," he said.
"I fear the day we hand over completely to Irish Water. We can't get an answer from Irish Water. They don't have a clue what's going on up here and they don't care," Cllr Ben Brennan claimed.
Water staff in local authorities have to make a decision by December 31 2026, whether to stay or go and work for Uisce Eireann.
A nationwide two day strike by SIPTU members in local authority water services planned for June 7 and 8 was averted days beforehand after Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, conceded to union demands to have all their members' earnings, including overtime and allowances, protected if they do not transfer to Uisce Éireann, but choose to keep working for their local authority employer.
The 2-day strike could have forced boil water notices, a loss of water for business and domestic users.
On the week commencing Monday, June 13, 50% of the retained fire service were starting rolling work stoppages.