A Kerry councillor has warned that ongoing water problems are about to get even worse if not immediately dealt with.

At Monday's monthly meeting of Kerry County Council, Councillor Michael Cahill said that the residents of Beaufort and surrounding parishes had endured enough pain and were continuously deprived of a most basic human requirement.

He said that Irish Water were not fit for purpose, and unless confirmation of funding is received this week and a specific timeframe for the carrying out of the pipe laying works and a commitment that the road network is reinstated afterwards, that the Board of Irish Water should resign.

Having consistently raised the problems with the ongoing interrupted water supply in the greater Beaufort area, which is already having a knock on effect on the Listry and Faha areas, the effects are about to be felt wider afield in Barleymount, Aghadoe, Ballyhar, Firies and Milltown, he warned.

“Reservoirs are drying up already, and summer hasn’t yet started," he said.

"This will exacerbate an already disastrous situation over a wide area where pipe networks are no longer fit for purpose and urgently require to be replaced. The health of all our people is being put at risk and we will not accept that kind of treatment."

He said he believes that the entire pipe network has to be replaced from scratch, which will be "an enormous undertaking”.

“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue, or in fact deteriorate further, as appears to be happening in Beaufort. Tough decisions need to be made, funds must be sourced and action is required now. It is only fair that I acknowledge the great work carried out by Kerry County Council staff in Water Services who attend to these water breaks at all hours and are doing their very best to provide water to the community without any support or assistance from Irish Water."