AN OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE will investigate water supply issues and road conditions around the country following the recent big freeze.
The Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government will examine local authorities’ reponse to the effects of the recent severe weather tomorrow afternoon.
Representatives of the County and City Managers Association (CCMA) – the group which represents senior management in local government – will appear before the committee to answer questions on current road conditions following the extremely cold spell and the supply of drinking water.
Efforts to keep roads clear and passable during the snowy and icy weather will also be under investigation.
The committee chairman Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming said the meeting follows an “unprecedented loss of water in many regions” which seriously inconvenienced businesses and households.
Fleming said councils and their reaction to weather-related events had been criticised and suggestions made that “they were not sufficiently resourced to deal with the effects of the thaw”.
“We intend to establish the current situation regarding water supply and consider the effectiveness of the councils’ response,” he added.
Severe water restrictions or shortages affected thousands of people across the country as ice and snow thawed over Christmas. Excess water caused pipes and water mains to burst, while leaks and people leaving taps on overnight drained water supplies from reservoirs.
Today, Dublin City Council said it would not be shutting down water services tonight or tomorrow night, but would review the situation again on Wednesday.
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