Water shortages set to continue through New Years Eve

Local authorities are currently assessing how best to cope with the ongoing water shortages as businesses prepare for one of the busiest nights of the year - New Years Eve.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have told the Times, however, that local authorities are doing all they can to restore supplies and are appealing to householders to be patient. The Department's water services advisor Gerry Galvin has said water supply plants are on full production, with demand abnormally high for this time of year.

Dublin City Council engineer Michael Philips said the local authority will decide at a meeting later today whether to lift the restrictions temporarily for New Year's Eve. Cork City Council have also warned it could be 7-10 days before supplies return to normal.

Across the border, the Stormont Executive is to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the crisis that has left around 36,000 homes and businesses without running water for over a week.