Water supplies across Mayo being closely monitored - report

Water supplies are being closely monitored by Uisce Éireann in Mayo due to growing anxiety over supply shortages because of the current high temperatures and low rainfall levels.

According to a report in the Irish Independent, Uisce Éireann has already had to supplement supplies in areas across the country - including Mayo and Galway - by bringing water in tanks to reservoirs or diverting supplies from elsewhere.

With weather forecasts showing little sign of change until early June, the concerns are certain to increase.

The European Drought Observatory has most of Ireland under drought watch or drought warning - and some local areas are already at stage-three drought alert.

Hosepipe bans are already in place in Meath, Westmeath and Donegal - and Mayo is unlikely to evade a similar ban over the coming weeks.