Cork water treatment plant out of action for five days

The Taoiseach Brian Cowen will today visit some of the areas worst affected by the recent flooding.

He will start in Cork, travelling on to Tipperary, Clare and Galway.

In Cork city, 50,000 people are waking up to their fourth day without water, following last Friday's devastating floods.

Schools on the northside of the city have been told to remain closed after the water supply was turned off because of fears over contamination.

Council officials have worked throughout the weekend to repair a damaged water treatment plant, but say it won't be fixed for at least five more days.