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NIW staff 'on holiday' during crisis

Published Wednesday, 16 March 2011

Almost 40% of Northern Ireland Water's staff were on holiday during the height of the water shortage crisis in December.

The figures were revealed on Wednesday by SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt.

Thousands of households were left without water during the crisis over the Christmas period, with many people critical about the lack of information provided by NI Water.

"The figures provided today to the Assembly's Regional Development Committee show that on Wednesday 29 December, 528 employees, that's 40% of the total workforce, were on leave. The figures for Thursday 30 and Friday 31 December are also alarmingly high at 35%.

"This will further corroborate many people's suspicions that NIW was not at all in control of this crisis," Mr McDevitt said.

The assembly member said people now need assurances that if a similar crisis happens again "half of the staff will not be on holiday."

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Comments

3 Comments

Mike in here wrote (792 days ago):

SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt. stated 35% and in one case 40% of staff on hols at xmas. He cannot have much faith in N.I.W. if he believes Niw have not learned anything from this and wants assurances that next time it will not be 50% on hols.

Allen in bangor wrote (794 days ago):

I know Seamas,it's like saying that the majority of MLA's sit around spouting out nonsense while doing nothing constructive - wait,bad comparison!

seamas in belfast wrote (795 days ago):

What a silly irrelevant point. Conall McDevitt clearly has no idea how a large organisation works. But then he is in the SDLP. NIW have technical and engineering staff that would be required to deal with an emergency. They also have junior clerical and ancillary staff that have no role in an emergency. They would be on holiday at Xmas as would half the country!!