A drought-stricken village in North Cork, in line for 60 new houses, is already struggling with a "nightmare" creaking water supply that hasn’t been upgraded in more than 50 years. State water utility Uisce Éireann, formerly known as Irish Water, says that funding is not available at present to replace the old network. The parish now has a population of just over 1,200 people, which is a lot more than when the supply system was built. While Uisce Éireann has in recent times reduced the number of leaks, Mr O'Leary claimed winter frosts will cause more breaks. The people deserve answers, investment, and certainty not another decade of excuses,” Mr O’Leary said.

Source: Irish Examiner January 04, 2026 16:46 UTC