25 February 2013, source edie newsroom Conor McGlone.
At least 20% of the 1,600 jobs created by Irish Water’s domestic water metering programme will be given to people from small local businesses and the unemployed, it was announced today.
In addition, the social inclusion commitment, which will form part of the regional management contractor’s contracts, will include the requirement that 5% of the jobs created will be apprentices, graduates or school leavers.
The metering programme starts in July 2013 and will run until September 2016, during which time over one million meters will be installed in homes across the country.
Ireland’s Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government Phil Hogan said the programme would benefit small businesses and ensure that skilled workers are given an opportunity to re-enter the workforce.
The Irish Water metering programme will create up to 2,000 jobs including 1,600 on the ground installing meters and 400 in Irish Water’s call centre supporting the programme.
Hogan said: “Irish water will install 27,000 meters per month, which is a challenging target but deliverable by having local crews working on the ground. The commitment is to focus on developing a world class national water infrastructure that meets the needs of a growing population in a socially inclusive and sustainable manner.”
