Aim of €7m office to persuade authority staff to switch to Irish Water

A Government minister has expressed concern about a €7m office, set up to help persuade local authority expert staff to transfer across to Irish Water.

His comments came as a confidential document revealed the co-operation of local authorities was linked to assurances over jobs, pensions and work agreements.

Communications and Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte said there was pressure to get local authority staff to co-operate with the setting-up of the State’s new public utility, Irish Water.