Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Concept Photo

Irish Water to cut 1,200 jobs

The company is looking to save €1.1 billion.

IRISH WATER IS due to reduce its number of employees by 1,200 over the next six years.

Three hundred jobs were cut since last year, making the number 1,500 in total.

A spokesperson for the utility said the measure is part of a larger business plan agreed when Irish Water was set up.

The company is hoping to save €1.1 billion in “operational savings” by 2021.

Business plan

Ervia, its parent company, published its business plan for the utility today, saying that it will “deliver a quality service to customers while addressing the constrained funding model and fragmented service delivery that has had such a damaging effect on Ireland’s water infrastructure over many decades”.

At a meeting today, Ervia’s chief executive Michael McNicholas said that by 2021 the plan commits to:

  • Eliminating the risk of drinking water contamination for 940,000 people
  • Lifting all current boil water notices
  • Reducing leakage from 49% to 38% – saving 180 million litres every day
  • Implementing a national lead strategy to reduce risk of contamination in up to 140,000 homes and an additional 40,000 homes on shared services
  • Ending the discharge of untreated wastewater at 44 locations
  • Significantly increasing water and wastewater capacity to support social and economic development.

As well as the job cuts, the €1.1 billion will be saved through reducing the cost of repairs and maintenance, energy, contracting and overheads.

The spokesperson said most of the 1,500 jobs will become vacant through retirement and vacant roles not being filled.

However, they added that a voluntary redundancy scheme is a possibility.

The spokesperson noted that the utility’s seven year plan, due to be unveiled today, for “transformation of the water sector” will include a €5.5 billion investment.

Fianna Fáil’s environment spokesperson Barry Cowen TD criticised the plan and the loss of jobs, saying “we need proper investment in our water network”.

- Additional reporting Aoife Barry

Read: Irish Water’s getting 300% more calls today than usual

Read: Irish Water says it has saved enough water for everyone in Kerry

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 128 comments
Close
128 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John F doe
    Favourite John F doe
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 8:41 AM

    The ‘who killed your granny’ budget

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Curran
    Favourite Anthony Curran
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 8:55 AM

    @John F doe: The “fix Britain after 14 years of the Tories” budget

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John F doe
    Favourite John F doe
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:51 AM

    @Anthony Curran: by killing off the elderly? I know you shinners have a low value on life but this is disgraceful

    16
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean
    Favourite Sean
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:50 AM

    @John F doe:
    A quick Google search will show you just what the tories thought of the elderly…Savage cuts to resources for vulnerable people..

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 11:01 AM

    @John F doe: if SF get in this is exactly what will be facing us if not worse.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy
    Favourite Tommy
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:26 AM

    I wonder will Ireland be loaning money to the U.K.? As the loaned money to us when we were in a very dire state but we still are unfortunately.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John F doe
    Favourite John F doe
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:53 AM

    @Tommy: we should absolutely help our wonderful nearest and dearest if needs be, they did it for us

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Favourite Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:04 AM

    @John F doe: dearest?

    10
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian
    Favourite Ian
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:37 AM

    @Tommy: Economics clearly isn’t your strong suit.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Firestarter
    Favourite The Firestarter
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 11:14 AM

    @John F doe: In fairness they provided jobs for the Irish for decades, and still do, not that we need them as much these days.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Buster Lawless
    Favourite Buster Lawless
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 1:02 PM

    @Tommy: let’s go Tommy Robinson

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lulu
    Favourite Lulu
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 1:09 PM

    @John F doe: And maybe charge them an outlandish rate of interest like they did to us !!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thesaltyurchin
    Favourite Thesaltyurchin
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:20 AM

    Mad how the Torys can do whatever they like, recklessly destroy the economy BUT Labour oOOoooo ‘pure evil’… politics is truly pathetic

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John F doe
    Favourite John F doe
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:52 AM

    @Thesaltyurchin: the conservatives never launched an attack on the elderly

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ian
    Favourite Ian
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:36 AM

    @John F doe: You’re absolutely dense.

    24
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Leech
    Favourite Paul Leech
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:38 AM

    @John F doe: Are you thick?. What age group do you think uses an underfunded NHS more than any other ?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Burke
    Favourite Michael Burke
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:42 AM

    @Ian: I agree

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute M To The B
    Favourite M To The B
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:48 PM

    @John F doe: neither have Labour so what on earth are you talking about?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dominic Leleu
    Favourite Dominic Leleu
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 8:58 AM

    so she can take the blame when it will backfire

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Purcell
    Favourite John Purcell
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:58 AM

    For all those ppl in ireland u say “the government can’t get any worse” of course it can get worse

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eddienowy Byrne
    Favourite Eddienowy Byrne
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:07 AM

    The Budgies won’t be impressed with a tax hike.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 10:58 AM

    Labour a bit like our own, pretend to be sympathetic and be the voice for the working class, yet when in power, o difficult decisions will have it be made. A conservative landslide is likely when they eventually put in a motion of no confidence against this travesty. Stammer the worst Labour PM since Ramsay MacDonald

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute M To The B
    Favourite M To The B
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 9:47 PM

    @Alan: the Tories ran the country in to the ground for over a decade. That Labour would actually try and fix that by taxing the people that can afford it isn’t the “travesty” you think it is. The Tories are trying to paint this budget as crippling the working class but that’s, once again, is an utter lie.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronan Mc
    Favourite Ronan Mc
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 11:02 AM

    Yep, how do you tax all the profits from State assets sold for a pittance to cronies and then offshored and shielded from view forever?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ned
    Favourite Ned
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 3:48 PM

    The once Great Britain is now little Britain a byproduct off Brexit.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Hayden
    Favourite Gerard Hayden
    Report
    Oct 30th 2024, 6:09 PM

    What is this talk of Labour having promised not to raise taxes? Let’s be clear what they promised was not to raid Texas, and so far they have honoured that!

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds