The public are advised to contact the Garda if they have concerns about the safety of a road according to a Senior Engineer with Tipperary County Council. The response by Uisce Eireann and Tipperary County Council to a major water leak on Davis Street, Tipperary town, which began on Wednesday June 18th and was eventually responded to and repaired on June 21st was raised at today’s Municipal District Meeting by Councillor Anne Marie Ryan.
The councillor asked for clarification on the relationship between Tipperary County Council and Uisce Eireann in such circumstances. Senior Engineer James Murray was emphatic that the council would not take on other people’s issues whether it was water, electricity or gas. The meeting heard that An Garda Siochana are responsible for Road Safety issues and if they decided a road closure or hazard signage was necessary the council would act to support them.
Repairs to Water Leak on Davis Street Tipperary town – June 21st 2025
Cllr John Crosse called on Council officials to meet with Uisce Eireann to put in place a plan for future similar situations which he says will definitely arise. Council engineers say in general they are not happy with the standard of reinstatement works done by Uisce Eireann and it’s contractors. The meeting also heard that if Uisce Eireann or it’s contractors want to dig on a road they must obtain a licence in advance from the relevant Council. If the staff dealing with the repair are former Council staff from the Water services section of the council, now in the direct employment of Uisce Eireann, they can proceed without a licence. It is understood that the council can also act if requested by Uisce Eireann but normally require Uisce Eireann to provide a Purchase Order number to cover payment before any works begin. Thousands of litres of water went to waste during the almost 3 day leak.
Davis Street, Tipperary town, partial closure during repairs on Saturday June 21st 2023
Cllr John O’Heney raised concerns about works today on Bridge Street, Tipperary which were thought to be completed on Friday. The Councillor says local businesses are facing disruption due to a lack of parking spaces. Cllr Mary Hanna noted that Uisce Eireann issued an appeal for water to be conserved on by people supplied by the Galtee Regional Scheme while the leak went unattended. Cllr Hanna also shared the experience of a farmer whose lands adjacent to the Donohill road is saturated and a leak is visible on the road surface. The meeting heard that a contractor was sent to investigate why the field is saturated but stopped work suddenly and told the farmer that they had been paid for a certain number of hours and had to stop despite not having found the source of the water.
