18 October 2017, Wednesday, 12 noon
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Pictured yesterday: Tom Stritch, Director of services for Road and Transportation in Cork County Council, with Cork County Council Chief Executive Tim Lucey and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy TD, assessing the damage after the storm on the Waterloo Road near Blarney, Co Cork.
Picture: David Keane.
Cork is Ireland’s largest County and also bore the brunt of Storm Ophelia on Monday. Cork County Council staff have been contining their immense efforts to restore infrastructure again this morning.
Yesterday, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy TD joined Chief Executive of Cork County Council Tim Lucey to witness first-hand the damage caused as a result of storm Ophelia. During this time Cork County Council received over 800 calls and has worked to ensure all services are restored to the people of Cork as soon as possible.
Cork County Council have now confirmed that almost all regional roads have been cleared; however the following remain closed due to a large number of fallen trees and ongoing repair works with the ESB.
- R627 Midleton to Dungourney, significant clearance work remains to be done due to the large number of fallen trees on this road
- R613 Ballea Road, Carrigaline, expected to open later today
- R597 Glandore
- R590 Crookstown to Bandon
- R605 Innishannon to Dunderrow
The number of local roads affected has been reduced to 25. The Council is confident that quite a number of these roads will open before nightfall this evening.
Water supplies are being restored in Youghal and Fermoy. A tanker has been deployed in Youghal to assist while water levels are restored. Ballydehob/Sherkin Island water supplies are expected to be restored by midday today. A tanker has been deployed in Ballydehob in the interim.
Tanks have also been deployed to Donoughmore, Carrignavar, Watergrasshill, Glenville, Grenagh and Belgooly as a temporary measure while water supply is being restored. Further details are available on www.irishwater.ie . Customers with water service queries should contact Irish Water on 1850 278 278.
Cork County Council is closely monitoring the situation and has activated its Drinking Water Incident Response Plan in cases where they may be concerns around water quality issues. In terms of waste water (sewage) treatment plants, the Council is liaising with ESB Networks to prioritise the restoration of power to these plants and associated pumping stations.
A number of Council offices remain affected. Should members of the public have difficulty contacting any council office, please contact our incident line on 021 4800048.
Cork County Council can confirm that the Dursey Cable Car is now open following an inspection by our structural consultant.
A substantial number of customers remain affected by power outages. ESB networks are working to restore supply as soon as possible.
Cork County Council would like to take this opportunity to thank members of the public for their patience and assistance at this time.
Cork County Council will continue to post further updates on Cork County Council’s twitter page @CorkCoCo and website at www.CorkCoCo.ie.
Matters are being monitored and responded to on an ongoing basis and regular updates will follow.
