We won’t allow privatisation of core services, says union

LOCAL authority members have vowed to prevent the privatisation of core services such as water and housing.

The IMPACT trade union has accused the Government of using Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to privatise core local authority services, including water, housing and waste management, putting the quality of such services at risk.

Speaking at the union’s local government conference in Waterford, IMPACT assistant general secretary, Stephen O’Neill, said local authorities were being denied access to funds for infrastructure investment unless they agreed to privatisation through PPPs.