A MAJOR study will be carried out across West Cork to explore options for increasing water supply.

Uisce Éireann aims to assess current and future water needs in Bandon, Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry and Castletownbere, as well as a number of smaller villages throughout the Beara Peninsula.

The assessment will explore feasible solutions to address water scarcity issues.

Senator Noel O’Donovan (FG) said: ‘Reliable water infrastructure is absolutely fundamental to protecting our quality of life, supporting housing delivery, sustaining local enterprises and enabling growth.’

He said many communities have ‘been under pressure for too long’.

He also welcomed confirmation that plans for a new water connection in Bandon and Clonakilty have moved to the design stage of the project.