Gormley appeals to public to conserve water

Environment Minister John Gormley today appealed to people to conserve water as levels are running dangerously low due to record demand during the cold snap.

The Green Party leader made the comments following today's meeting in Dublin of the Emergency Response Committee, which is assessing the impact of the sub-zero conditions.

He said there are problems with supplies in Dublin, Cork, Sligo, Leitrim and North Tipperary due to a 25% increase in demand.

The Minister is again asking people not to leave taps running as it is leading to a shortage of supply in many parts of the country.

"The primary difficulty has been identified as people taking precautions - as they see it - by letting their taps run," Minister Gormley said.

"We had record demand over the weekend… and as a result the reservoirs have run dangerously low."