The first in a series of clinical tests are to be carried out today on residents who live in the Galway city suburb where the water supply has been contaminated with lead.
Householders in Old Mervue have also been told that it could be several months before the water there will be safe to drink.
Emergency taps with water that is safe to drink are being installed on street corners in Mervue estate where up to 1,000 people live.
This morning the residents' association said it is seriously concerned about the situation in the area.
It wants all residents to be offered blood tests to establish that their health has not been damaged by the lead contamination.
Chairperson Leslie Bohan said there was a very real fear about what effect drinking the contaminated water over the past weeks and months might have had.
She said people were entitled to have their fears allayed.
Galway's City Manager has denied there was any 'cover up or unnecessary delay' in dealing with the discovery of excessive lead levels in the water supply in four city suburbs.
Joe McGrath said he was 'absolutely satisfied his staff had dealt appropriately and effectively with the issue'.
Mr McGrath said that as soon high levels of lead were detected in the water in Galway in July all of the relevant bodies were notified and the HSE correctly began a very comprehensive series of tests in Augusts.
When the results were received residents were advised of the situation.
He said he rejected any suggestion that city council officials were 'tardy' in their response.
