A Ballina area Councillor has voiced his frustration that four local companies have been made redundant by Irish Water.

John O'Hara told a recent meeting of the Ballina Municipal District that there is now no local company to do work like unblocking a sewer.

Cllr. O'Hara says these local contractors were employed for almost 15 years and done a terrific service.

He claims that a company from Northern Ireland has now replaced the local contractors in question.

He is also going to raise it at the next meeting of the local authority.

In response to Councilor O’Hara, Irish Water points out that, as a semi-state organisation they are bound by the EU procurement rules that requires semi-state organisations to open up higher value contract opportunities to bids across the European Union.

Irish Water says they adhere strictly to the principles of these EU rules, which requires them to run fair, transparent, and open competition to select the winning bid, while providing equal treatment to all tenders.

Irish Water adds that it’s very aware of the important role SMEs play in the supply chain and, if unsuccessful in a tender competition, they endeavour to facilitate engagement between suppliers, in the event that a working relationship can be formed between incoming and outgoing suppliers.