Irish Water has confirmed plans to shed hundreds of jobs over the next 6 years.

Publishing the utility's business plan this morning, parent company Ervia said that 2014 staff numbers will be reduced by 15 hundred by 2021.

Its part of an 'operational efficiencies' plan that sets out to save 1.1 billion euro through areas including payroll, energy, contracting and industry overheads.

Ervia says Irish Water will invest €5.5 billion on water infrastructure over the next six years.

Under the plan, the company says it will achieve the following by 2021: 

• Eliminate the risk of drinking water contamination for 940,000 people
• Lifr all current boil water notices
• Reduce leakage from 49% to 38% - saving 180 million litres every day
• Implement a national lead strategy to reduce risk of contamination in up to 140,000 homes and an additional 40,000 homes on shared services
• End the discharge of untreated wastewater at 44 locations
• Increase water and wastewater capacity to support social and economic development.
• Invest €5.5 billion on water infrastructure over the next 6 years