Irish Water is to axe 1,200 jobs between now and 2021.

The utility firm confirmed the news in a business plan launched by its parent company Ervia.

Ervia's Chief Executive Michael McNicholas said: "Our water and wastewater services are not fit for purpose to meet the needs of a modern society and economy. Much of the infrastructure is old and poorly maintained.

"Half of our water never makes it to the tap, we discharge untreated sewage onto our beaches, nearly one million people's water supply is at risk and we don't have enough capacity for our capital to grow.

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"The European Court of Justice is pursuing Ireland for multiple failures to address the discharge of raw sewage into our environment. This cannot continue.

"Having a single national utility is the only way to deliver the essential investment and transformation required between now and 2021. A utility model for water services has long been the norm across Europe, and is the norm in Ireland for other essential services such as electricity and gas."

Its plans also include:

• Eliminating the risk of drinking water contamination for 940,000 people

• Lifting all current boil water notices

• Reducing leakage from 49% to 38% – saving 180 million litres every day

• Implementing a national lead strategy to reduce risk of contamination in up to 140,000 homes and an additional 40,000 homes on shared services

• Ending the discharge of untreated wastewater at 44 locations

• Significantly increasing water and wastewater capacity to support social and economic development.

(CD/JP)