The Daily Star Ireland
The government is being urged to take stronger measures to prepare for and minimize the disruption caused by extreme weather events. Opposition parties are calling for state support to be more easily accessible and for local authorities to receive additional funding for preventative measures.
As of this evening, ESB Networks reported that 47,000 customers remain without electricity. While many households have had their power restored in recent days, some have experienced further outages. The company explained that as repairs are carried out on main power lines, temporary service interruptions may be necessary to ensure the safety of crews working in other areas.
With gradual progress being made, focus is now shifting toward long-term preparedness for future storms. Sinn Féin has proposed that energy companies should fund goodwill payments to households that have endured prolonged power outages.
The party’s Galway-Roscommon TD has formally written to the Taoiseach, representing Sinn Féin representatives from Connacht and Ulster, urging the government to implement measures that would prevent a recurrence of the current crisis.
There are also growing calls for improved services in rural areas. Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, expressed deep frustration over the lack of adequate support for vulnerable individuals, particularly those with medical conditions who require urgent assistance.
Lawless pointed to the insufficient availability of backup generators and delays in accessing emergency infrastructure as major issues. He noted that recent policies have encouraged complete reliance on the national grid, leaving communities highly vulnerable to disruptions.
“We live in a rural and widely dispersed country. People need access to backup generators to maintain essential support when power outages occur,” he emphasized.
For those who have been forced to seek alternative accommodation due to the ongoing outages, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed that financial assistance will be provided for hotel or B&B stays. Claimants will need to provide proof of their bookings, which will be cross-checked against their electricity meter point reference numbers (MPRN) to verify eligibility.
