The Minister for the Environment has “no plans” to meet Siptu members to discuss concerns over plans to align Local Development Companies (LDC) with local authorities – despite calls by Government colleague Joe Costello to “respect” workers and “meet their union”.

LDCs were established to promote the development of their own rural areas. In the report Action Programme for Effective Local Government last October, Phil Hogan announced plans to "align" LDCs with local authorities to "avoid confusion and duplication".

LDC workers claim this will have “major implications for jobs and services” and “remove control of services” from local communities. Mr Hogan’s report estimated 2,000 staff were employed by LDCs in September 2011.

Minister of State for Trade and Development Joe Costello yesterday signed a Siptu petition calling on Mr Hogan to “respect” community sector workers and “meet their union”. The Labour Minister said there “must” be consultation with “all stakeholders” when “fundamental changes” were being made.

A spokesman for Mr Hogan told The Irish Times last night there were "certainly no plans at the minute" to meet Siptu members, but claimed there had been "a significant level of discussion and collaborative working" on the proposals.