Council cut backs could mean one solitary plumber will be left with the task of servicing the entire social housing stock in the town of Mallow, County Cork, it has been claimed.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Noel O'Connor over the issue at last week's Northern Area meeting.

He said a temporary plumber in the town is soon to be made redundant, while another is to retire. This would leave just one local authority employed plumber for the whole town.

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Assistant County Manager Tim Lucey confirmed that three plumbers in the Northern Division will lose their jobs by the end of the year.

There are currently ten plumbers servicing all the council houses in North Cork.

Mr O'Connor pointed to the currently inadequacies in water system supplies in the area, which will need better servicing.

"If there is no one to repair leaks, our water will just be turned off. One plumber is not enough for the Mallow area," said the councillor.

However, Mr Lucey allayed fears.

"We can assure people that there will be staff to respond to emergency leaks," he said.

Despite this, the Assistant County Manager revealed: "In the northern division there will have to be a reduction in costs. The situation is that contracts will not be renewed as they expire."

(PR/JM)