As extensive areas of east and south Galway remain flooded, Galway County Council has extended a boil water notice for the public water supply in large parts of the county.
Recent sampling results indicate that the mid-Galway regional water supply scheme has become “contaminated”, the local authority said today
The boil water notice will extend from Abbeyknockmoy in the north to Ballydavid in the south, Bracklooin in the east and Coolarn in the west. It also includes Monivea and Colemanstown.
Group water schemes in Abbert, Ard Aobhin, Kiltullagh, Cuillagh, Mira, Coolarne and an area to the south of the Galway-Dublin railway line known as the mid-Galway phase 4 scheme are also included in the alert.
A similar notice is already in place in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, where a major clear-up has begun as levels on the river Suck have dropped. Water must be boiled for drinking, preparation of salads and foods which are not cooked, teeth brushing and ice-making, the local authority says, and full details are on its website www.galway.ie
A number of roads are still closed in the county, including the N18 Galway-Limerick road at Kiltartan which has been closed now for over a week since a wall was demolished. Vehicles bound for Gort and Ennis are being diverted via Loughrea.
The N63 Galway-Roscommon road is also still impassable and closed between Horseleap Cross and Moylough, and the R339 Galway-Monivea road is impassable between Carnmore cross and Barret’s Park junction, except for local access.
Galway West TD Noel Grealish (Ind) has called on the Minister for Finance to introduce a scheme to indemnify householders who were affected by the recent flooding before they begin to refurbish their homes.
“The main concern of people, whose homes were flooded in the last couple of weeks is that they will not be able to get insurance against possible future flooding and if they spend money refurbishing their homes, they will live in constant fear of the same thing happening again,” Mr Grealish said today in a statement.
“I have contacted the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance and I have asked that a scheme be put in place to offer some protection to these homeowners,” he said.
“What I am suggesting is a scheme similar to the one that applies on motor insurance policies, where a levy could be placed on premiums to cover insurance claims against uninsured drivers.”
Mr Grealish has stated that assurances must be given to victims of recent flooding that they have some form of protection if the same thing were to happen again, before they can refurbish their homes.
HSE West has opened a counselling helpline today for flood victims, which will be staffed by psychology and social work professionals. Support for “managing stress, together with advice for families with children and vulnerable others” will be on offer, HSE West said.
It will be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, at 1800 245 600. A separate HSE information line for practical services has been opened at 1800 283 036.
Galway County Council’s emergency phone line is (091) 509309.
