SUPPORT crews are being jetted in from Finland, Austria and France to try and speed up the clean-up from back to back storms.
Around 228,000 people are still without power and 84,000 without water.
People are being forced to go to their local GAA club to shower and revert to using fires to heat their homes with some even managing to hook up their electric cars to briefly power their properties.
And as many people face the prospect of having no electricity or water well into next week, the Government has been accused of “political negligence” for failing to recall the Dail immediately.
Storm Eowyn saw 183kmph winds batter the country last Friday with more than 800,000 properties left without power in the immediate aftermath of the record-breaking gales.
Technicians from the ESB immediately began work to reconnect homes and businesses but their efforts were hampered by Storm Herminia that brought more dangerous winds and torrential rain to our shores.
The ESB has called in re-enforcements from the UK, Finland, Austria and France with some crews landing here today to try speed up the process of reconnecting homes with power and water.
Some 84,000 people were still without water today with Uisce Eireann warning more than 100,000 more customers could lose their supplies if electricity is not restored to treatment plants soon.
More than 250,000 properties were today being supported by generators with Uisce Eireann moving these machines around the country to try restore water to areas left without power.
Ireland has borrowed 13 large scale generators from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands but these were delayed in being deployed after Irish officials failed to provide enough details in their request for assistance from the EU.
In a desperate bid to help struggling households, power generators were airlifted to remote areas across the country today including the Aran Islands off the coast of Galway.
The western seaboard and the north of the country remains the hardest hit by outages with the ESB warning that 100,000 could still be without power next week.
The worst impacted counties from power outages and water shortages including Galway, Clare, Donegal, Kerry, Monaghan, Cavan and parts of Meath.
ESB Regional Director Siobhan Wynne said the clean up from Storm Eowyn is taking longer in Ireland than it has in the UK because the winds hit harder here last week.
‘MORE SEVERE THAN IN UK’
She said: “The impact of the storm on Ireland was a lot more severe than it was on the UK so I think in terms of our response we really have responded as well as possible in terms of putting as many resources as we can.
“There was great planning put in in advance. It is really just down to the shear devastation that has been wreaked by the storm.”
Hundreds of thousands of people will be battling the impacts of power outages today with a number of schools forced to remain closed as they have no electricity.
Farmers in parts of the country left without water have also raised concern about the welfare of their animals as they drive long distances to ferry supplies back and forth to keep their farm going.
People whose homes or businesses have been impacted by the storm can apply for assistance funds from the State including the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
BATTERY BLAST
In some cases, people with electric vehicles were using their car battery to power devices in their home using connection cables.
Local councils across hard hit parts of the country are setting up “emergency response hubs” in GAA clubs and other facilities where generators are being used to enable locals to use showers and charge their phones.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group met again today with Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke claiming that the Government “won’t be found wanting” when it comes to support for those impacted by the storm.
Thousands of homes are still without power due to the storm[/caption]
The country’s wide devastation caused by the storms has led to calls from some political parties for the Dail to be recalled so issues can be raised with the Government.
After Micheal Martin was elected Taoiseach last week, the Dail was closed until February 5 to enable the new Cabinet ministers get acquainted with their briefs.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald today wrote to the Taoiseach to urge him to recall the Dail immediately to help address the crisis.
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION NEEDED
She said: “The severity of this situation requires immediate attention. Across the country, communities are facing emergencies that demand the Government’s direct engagement and support.
“It is imperative that TDs be given the opportunity to raise these urgent issues on behalf of their constituents and to collaboratively determine the immediate actions needed to support this impacted.
“I call on you to demonstrate decisive leadership in this moment of crisis by recalling the Dail as a matter of urgency. Not to do so would be political negligence.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin was today in Poland for a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp.
FURTHER SUPPORTS DECISION
In a statement, he said that he remains in constant contact with officials and Ministers will meet on Wednesday to decide if further supports are required.
Energy and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien said the government needs to focus on getting power and water back to people instead of giving speeches in Dail Eireann.
He said: “To be very frank, the recall of the Dail and maybe people trying to politicise an event like this is not where we should be at.
“People should be continuing to support our local authorities, continuing to support our emergency services to get that power and water restored and assist.
“A lot of TDs and councillors are doing this across the country already by being part of those community groups in supporting people and looking after our most vulnerable.”
ENDS
