Monaghan councillor calls for protection of water staff during job talks

A Monaghan councillor has called for water treatment staff to be protected during talks on their jobs.

The Government plans to transfer around 3,200 staff employed by local authorities to work directly for Irish Water.

Currently, staff at more than 800 water plants are employed by local authorities, although Irish Water has legal responsibility for the running of the plants.

Four trade unions representing county council staff have today called for reassurances on future job security.

At a recent Monaghan County Council meeting, a motion by Seamus Coyle to protect staff received unanimous support.

He says the service has been very effective without this change.