Attempts by Irish Water to draft in external contractors to step up leak detection and repair work have led to a bitter dispute with local authority staff that has wound up in the Labour Relations Commission.

Pressure is mounting on a local authority to scrap plans to lease vacant council houses to housing charities after Siptu opposed the move last night.

Three council workers who were suspended for filling a pothole are due back at work today after their suspensions were lifted.

Three council workers have been suspended pending an investigation into how they were filling potholes.

The Men Will Talk to Me:Kerry Interviews by Ernie O’Malley

Water shortages are looming after local authority workers threatened industrial action if they are not consulted properly over the setting up of Irish Water.

MORE than 200 jobs were axed in north Kerry last night in what is being termed as a catastrophe for the region's workforce on a par with the Limerick pull-out by computer giant Dell.

A COMPANY which is due to close next week with the loss of 70 jobs was yesterday accused by SIPTU of “cynically misusing” industrial relations procedures.

CHANGED work practices, including the cutting out of overtime for bin men and non-replacement of staff who go sick, could lead to problems for a compromise deal which has been agreed by councillors to keep Tralee Town Council in business.