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Sheila Shanahan with a sample of Reenascreena water

Mr Tobin gave a frank explanation of the combination of factors that had caused Reenascreena mains water to fail from Friday 15^th July to Tuesday 19^th July, and admitted that because it was at the end of the network Reenascreena was the first location to experience water shortages and the last to be restored when there was a problem. He maintained that he wasn't in a position to offer a commitment on behalf of the council that the restored water supply could be maintained. When pressed to comment further on what action the council would take to rectify the situation Mr. Tobin referred to plans currently being considered to provide water to the Reenascreena network from a scheme proposed for the Dunmanway area... but when asked for a time frame for this solution he indicated that it could take anything up to five years to come to fruition.

Concerned residents then asked what could be done immediately to secure their water supply in the short term. Mr Tobin said that he did not have the authority to make any commitments on behalf of the council and that he would have to refer the matter to his superiors.

The meeting was also attended by County Councillors Maura Cal McCarthy and Jim Daley, who both sympathized with residents and assured them that they would be raising the issue with the relevant authorities within the County Council. They also invited a deputation from Reenascreena to make a submission to the next meeting of Cork County Council's Western Committee on the third Monday in September. That may be too late for this year, but will potentially help to fast-track a longer term solution to the water problem.

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