Unexpected water breaks at Fermoy Community Hospital are soon to be a thing of the past, as it has been confirmed that Lagan Construction are to carry out works to fix the problem in the next month and the works are expected to be completed within eight weeks.

The news was welcomed by Cllr Noel McCarthy who raised the issue at three meetings in the past week (Mallow, Fermoy and Mitchelstown) and it was announced that a new water main between Richmond Hill and the hospital is to be laid. He added that a public meeting needs to be held to keep business people, residents and motorists, aware of how the works will affect them and their daily routes.

While concerns were raised by Cllr Frank O’Flynn about the works clashing with State exams, Cllr Noel McCarthy said that the works simply cannot be delayed any longer for any reason, adding that whenever it is done, it will inconvenience somebody. 

Ger Barry told councilllors at an area committee meeting in Mitchelstown this week, that it was all systems go for the hospital water main and the associated drainage works. While councillors in attendance, Frank O’Flynn, Noel McCarthy, Kevin O’Keeffe and Pa O’Driscoll welcomed this positive development, there was some nervousness about the impact the works would have on the town. Cllr Noel McCarthy in particular was anxious that the public be given the best information possible regarding all aspects of the project.

“I’m conscious that the council have worked long and hard to get the project to this stage. However, as public representatives, we must try and keep people informed about what’s proposed,” Cllr McCarthy said.

In reply, Mr Barry said that all affected residents were being contacted about the proposed works and that in principle, he had no problem with organising a public meeting. However, he prefaced his remarks by saying that previous public meetings on related issues attracted only a handful of individuals.