80% of bookings lost over water bug

MORE than four-fifths of hotels and guesthouses in Galway have had bookings cancelled as a result of the contamination of water supplies in and around the city, a survey has revealed.

The poll, carried out by Galway West election hopeful Margaret Cox, coincides with figures showing the number of people who have fallen ill after drinking the water is rising slowly. It now stands at 219 people.

Since the cryptosporidium bug was found in the county’s supplies two months ago and traced to Lough Corrib, 83% of accommodation owners have reported cancellations, said Ms Cox.

Her election team questioned the owners of a random selection of 110 hotels, guesthouses and bed-and-breakfast places.

They found that since the outbreak of the stomach bug in March, the 110 accommodation places had 675 cancellations between them.

Ms Cox said the survey demonstrated that tourism in Galway was suffering because of the crisis in confidence over the safety of supplies.

“The results of our survey are deeply worrying and are an indictment of the lack of leadership being shown by all parties in this continuing debacle,” she said.

“Tourism is very important for Galway and I think the message has got to go out that it is perfectly safe to visit the city and the county.”

The Health Service Executive has earmarked June 15 as the date when the boil notice will be lifted so residents no longer have to use boiled tap water.

Galway City Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Brol-cháin (Green Party), said the authorities were working to sort out the problem and were bringing in new water supplies from Tuam.

A temporary water treatment plant was being put in place while a new, permanent one was earmarked to be operating within five years, he said.