Staff in local authorities have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in protest at Government plans to reform water services.
The industrial action by members of the union Siptu will be triggered in the event of water service assets being transferred out of local authorities or if private contractors take over work currently carried out by local authority water staff.
Siptu said the ballot covered about 2,500 staff in local authorities including water/sewerage caretakers, network staff, plumbers and inspectors.
Siptu said the move to ballot on industrial action followed the decision of the Department of the Environment to transfer assets and duties of its members to Bord Gáis and other contractors as part of the reforms.
The Government announced this year that a new State water utility, to be known as Irish Water, was to be established.
It also announced that the contract to run the company had been awarded to Bord Gáis Éireann, of which Irish Water will become a subsidiary.