Concerns over ‘sweetheart deal’ for workers

Concerns have been raised that local authority staff will receive a “sweetheart deal” in their transfer to Irish Water at a wasted cost of €2bn for taxpayers.

While some ministers yesterday backed the transfer of thousands of council staff from around the country, one Labour minister said he was astonished at the deal.

Innovation Minister Sean Sherlock said yesterday that he was “uneasy” about the claim by a leading economist that Irish Water would be forced to employ double the staff it needs, which could add an extra €65 a year to the average household water bill.