Kilcoyne ‘disappointed’ with Irish Water

Ciara Galvin

CATHAOIRLEACH of Castlebar Municipal District Michael Kilcoyne has said he is disappointed that Irish Water has not provided free water to people on fixed incomes in the wake of the boil water notice.
At the September meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District the Independent councillor was critical of Irish Water in this regard, arguing that it is not acceptable that patients of the Sacred Heart Hospital should have to wait for water to cool before drinking it.
“I’m disappointed, I got a phone call about the Sacred Heart, that patients have to wait for water to cool down for them to drink. Patients who need water—I don’t think that’s acceptable,” said Kilcoyne.

‘Taking advantage’
The cathaoirleach was also critical of some businesses in Castlebar that he said were ‘taking advantage’ of the boil water notice. Some restaurants were charging €2.60 for bottled water last week, he said.
“People need to drink something with their meals, and I don’t think it’s acceptable that some restaurants are taking advantage of this,” he said.
Fianna FΡil councillor Blackie Gavin said the current boil water situation showed that ‘when something goes wrong there’s no Plan B’.
Cllr Gavin suggested that if it were possible, the former spring tap in the town should be reconnected so that hospitals and homes could get free water.
Fine Gael councillor Cyril Burke described the situation as a ‘huge inconvenience’, while Cllr Frank Durcan took issue with bottled water being imported from England into Tesco stores.
Cllr Durcan also reiterated Cllr Gavin’s thoughts about reconnecting the spring tap at Marsh House and the corner of New Antrim Street in the town.
“It would be a great boost for people who can’t afford it [water],” said Cllr Durcan
The Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Al McDonnell, said the discovery of cryptosporidium in a water supply that serves nearly one third of the county’s population was  ‘very disturbing’. Cllr McDonnell added that feeder streams should also be tested for the presence of cryptosporidium.
A statement from Irish Water yesterday (Monday) said that ‘the sampling programme and investigations continued throughout the weekend and during the incubation period’ and indicated that a further update would be issued later this week.
In the interim, those affected should note that the boil water notice remains in place.