Thousands Without Water In Northern Ireland

Nearly 8,000 homes in Northern Ireland remain without water due to industrial action over pensions.

Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh have been worst-affected after staff voted to withdraw on-call services.

More than 1,000 children remained at home on Tuesday when disruptions to water supply closed nine primary schools.

Nipsa, Unite and GMB members voted last month for a work-to-rule in protest over changes to pensions.

Representatives from NI Water and the unions have been meeting at the Labour Relations Agency, with both sides saying they would remain there overnight in a bid to resolve the crisis.

Northern Ireland's Regional Development Minister, Danny Kennedy, said: "We need to resolve this, we need to get it concluded and that needs to be done urgently and without further delay."

In a statement, NI Water said it regretted that 7,750 properties in west Tyrone and Fermanagh were without their supply.

Customers were advised to bring their own containers to collect water at four alternative supply points: Presbyterian Church, Drumquin; Killen Primary School, Killen; Main Street, Killeter; and Cavan Road, Fintona.

The statement continued: "Supply interruptions are the result of industrial action and reduced resources to manage and maintain water treatment works and other assets.

"NI Water recognises that this is a frustrating experience for our customers and can assure them we are doing everything possible to restore water supplies."

The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Regional Development is holding an emergency meeting on Wednesday to be briefed on the crisis.

Some home owners have resorted to collecting snow and boiling it so their children can have a wash.

Eilish Doyle, a mother-of-three from Draperstown, told the Belfast Telegraph: "We had nothing for a week. It's ok for the head (of NI Water) to come on television and apologise.

"She's in a big, warm office. She should be here. Goodwill gestures from the company are too little, too late."

Joe Byre, an SDLP member of the Assembly, said: "It is unacceptable and highly distressing for families but also reaching a critical point for farmers and business owners. The situation has gone on for long enough and a resolution must be found."