Beleaguered Irish Water boss John Tierney last night insisted he is "going nowhere" despite Government plans for a major overhaul of the crisis-hit organisation.

The Sunday Independent has learned that a radical shake-up of Irish Water's structures and of some of its key personnel is already "well-advanced".

Mr Tierney's leadership of Irish Water was called into question by no fewer than six Coalition ministers this weekend, sparking a bitter blame game between the Government and the semi-State company.

"Where is the guy? Since he gaffed in relation to the consultants earlier in the year it looks like he has been benched. He should be out front, not in hiding," one minister told the Sunday Independent.

Another member of the Cabinet added: "We are getting it in the neck here, but his position must be in question."

Relations between the Government and Irish Water have plummeted to a new low, with many Coalition TDs fearing mounting public anger at the company's disastrous handling of the charges will cost them their seats at the next General Election.

Several Government sources confirmed this weekend that detailed plans are being advanced to "shake up" Irish Water. One Labour Cabinet minister described the fallout over the charges as a "fucking disaster".

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has informed the company of his deep displeasure as to how it has handled its operations in recent weeks.

The Sunday Independent has learned that the boards of Ervia (Bord Gais) and Irish Water will be unified, with a view to radically shaking up the level of expertise at the utility.

Specifically, Mr Kelly is to seek to place "properly qualified people" in key positions and is adamant that it won't be "stuffed with party acolytes".

A senior Government source said: "There will be no party hacks going on here. We are looking for professionals who know what they are doing."

A Cabinet minister added: "There is an opportunity here to allow Irish Water start again. It is utterly discredited now at present."

Mr Tierney this weekend denied his position is under threat when contacted by this newspaper.

"There is absolutely no truth in that whatsoever," he said.

Irish Water has been engulfed in controversy since the start of the year when Mr Tierney revealed the company's €180m spend on consultants during its set-up phase.

Since then, it has bounced from crisis to crisis over the payment of bonuses, the controversial desire for PPS numbers, and its continuing failure to promptly deal with customer queries.

Now a bitter blame game has erupted between the Government and Irish Water.

Company management are understood to be furious with what they described as a "political man-hunt" which has erupted since last weekend.

It is believed they are angry that many of the difficulties now engulfing the company are as a direct result of Government decisions. During its set-up phase, Irish Water identified "political interference" as one of the major threats to its viability.

The former minister who was in charge of setting up of Irish Water, Fergus O'Dowd, this weekend launched another scathing attack on the failure of the company to live up to the initial objectives of transparency and accountability.

Mr O'Dowd claimed that a combination of unions and mandarins "stymied" his plans to create a consumer-oriented company.

He told the Sunday Independent: "The power of the unions and the semi-states is exceptionally strong; some of that undoubtedly happened here."

Mr O'Dowd alleges he was thwarted by Irish Water and the Department of the Environment in his attempts to ensure watchdogs and consumer advocates were appointed.

He added: "I wanted watchdogs on the board, I argued during the setting-up process that this was vital."

The deep sense of anger within Government is also not restricted to minsters amid growing signs of a backbench revolt over the debacle.

Labour TD Micheal Mc Namara told this newspaper: "Our great concern is that just as we try to reform the mess that is the HSE we are creating another HSE in terms of waste and non-accountability out of Irish Water."

A number of ministers are now urging the Taoiseach to postpone the full introduction of water charges in a bid to diffuse the crisis.

Some have cited the example of what has happened in Northern Ireland, where a flat charge was introduced for a set period of time to allow the water company to be properly established.

One minister said: "It makes sense and people are certainly talking about it at senior levels. Introduce a flat charge for two years, then decouple it once Irish Water is fit for purpose."

Meanwhile, the Sunday Independent has also learned that €66m in water charges subsidies to be paid for by Minister Joan Burton's Department of Social Welfare are not guaranteed to go to Irish Water. Social welfare recipients will get a €100 subsidy to pay their water charges, regardless of whether they pay their Irish Water bills or not.

The Government will not require any proof of payment from the 600,000 households who are getting the payment. But workers claiming the smaller tax relief will have to keep their bills to show Revenue they paid up.

A spokesman for Minister Burton said it was a matter for Irish Water to ensure compliance with bill paying.

Sunday Independent