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Power restored to all customers hit by storm, ESB Networks says

Power has been restored to over 768,000 homes, farms, schools, and businesses since the storm hit on 24 January
Power has been restored to over 768,000 homes, farms, schools, and businesses since the storm hit on 24 January

ESB Networks said that power has been restored to all remaining customers impacted by Storm Éowyn nearly three weeks ago.

Power has been restored to over 768,000 homes, farms, schools, and businesses since the storm hit on 24 January.

ESB Networks said the public should remain vigilant to the possibility of unidentified low hanging wires and should they be encountered, keep away and report them to ESB Networks immediately.

Meanwhile, some 5,700 payments totalling nearly €1.2m have been made so far under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) to people impacted by Storm Éowyn.

The average payout was €210 per claim.

It comes as Sinn Féin called on the Government to expand the scheme to include businesses, sporting clubs, voluntary organisations and community groups impacted by the severe weather event.

The Department of Social Protection said that its community welfare service continues to accept and process requests for help under the HAS.

Customers can claim financial support from the Government via the HAS, with some of the financial impact caused by power outages (for example, certain expenses for water, heat, and alternative accommodation) qualifying for reimbursement.

In a statement, the Cross-Departmental Recovery Group said it held a meeting and "is focusing its efforts to assist operators to return these services to normal as soon as possible".

The group said a total of 11 emergency response hubs remain open in counties Galway and Mayo and "continue to serve the needs of customers who may be experiencing broadband outages".

The statement also said that the estimated effect of Storm Éowyn on the national telecoms user base was the largest in ComReg's recording history.

As of 10am yesterday morning, 0.32% of fixed service users were still without services while 0.13% of mobile service users were still experiencing some level of degradation as a result of the storm.


Explainer: How the State's Humanitarian Assistance Scheme works


SF motion to compensate those impacted

Sinn Féin called on the ESB to give customers affected by Storm Éowyn "a goodwill payment" based on the amount of time they have been left without power by the damaging weather event.

Speaking during a Dáil private members motion, party members also called for ESB to suspend the Public Service Obligation levy and any standing charges for those affected, as well as increase supports for businesses and community groups.

During the debate, Sinn Féin TD for Mayo Rose Conway Walsh said the reality is "people are really struggling with cost of living" and "cannot sustain" the additional expenses caused by the storm.

Ms Conway Walsh said people affected "should be compensated, and they must be compensated", saying this includes "businesses, sporting clubs, community groups" all of whom "are struggling to keep going" after what happened.

Sinn Féin colleague and Louth TD Joanna Byrne continued, telling Government TDs "you've failed your first test", while Dublin Fingal West TD and party spokesperson on social protection, rural and community development Louise O Reilly said that while the crisis has ended "without too much delay" for some, "for some it endures".

Party TD for Sligo-Leitrim Martin Kenny also backed the calls, saying he believes the Government should make available "€100 a day" in compensation for each day customers were unable to use electricity due to the storm.

Payments totalling nearly €1.2m have been made so far under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme to those affected by the storm

Sinn Féin's private members motion was supported by Labour TD for Wexford George Lawlor, who said the aftermath of the storm has highlighted "a trail of emotional devastation that often goes unnoticed", adding: "the psychological impact is profound".

Mr Lawlor said people affected by the storm have been left in a position of "helplessness" and that while the "patchwork of well-intentioned responses" is of some use, "we need an active mechanism to be available to people" saying a "permanent statutory response mechanism" is required.

Responding to the comments on behalf of the Government, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne outlined a series of responses to the impact of the storm put forward by the coalition.

However, while rejecting suggestions "there was a lack of co-ordinated response", saying "that was not the case", Mr Browne said a "comprehensive review of Storm Éowyn" is needed and will take place to ensure a "further strengthening of resilience" of defences.

According to the ESB Networks, its revenue comes from different parts of the organisation, meaning there are restrictions on how much money it can allocate for certain expenditure.

ESB has said it does not offer compensation for loss of power in exceptional events such as storms.

It said its "customer charter includes provisions for payments in the event of prolonged fault outages.

"However, there are specific exceptions and conditions, particularly in cases of severe weather events such as storms, where this guarantee does not apply."

ESB Networks said the public should remain vigilant to the possibility of unidentified low hanging wires

Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary told the Dáil that while the "focus in recent weeks has been firmly on restoration of power" and on "getting back to normal operations", it is important that "now that has passed we need to look to the future".

Minister Calleary said that in his view "the response (to the storm) was timely".

However, he also acknowledged "that is not to say that lessons do not need to be learned", adding that the Government's "humanitarian assistance scheme continues to be open" to those who need it.

During the same Dáil debate, Independent Ireland member and TD for Limerick County Richard O Donoghue said in his view many of the issues caused by the storm were at least partly related to Government legislation over tree felling and other matters.

Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim Michael Fitzmaurice added that "we're nearly three weeks into this" (the storm recovery), and that those still affected need to be helped urgently.

Deputy Fitzmaurice also said in his view there is a need for more traditional heating approaches in homes, saying "thank god a lot of people had a chimney", adding that the Government should "ensure" homes in every county "have a chimney".

The Sinn Féin private members' motion will be voted on at the weekly Dáil voting division time today.

Additional reporting Aengus Cox and Fiachra Ó Cionnaith