Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

ESB Networks were on hand yesterday after a big tree crashed over the wall of the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Alamy

Storm Éowyn: Government to offer financial support to those affected by storm as 402,000 remain without electricity

The scale of the damage to the electricity network is unprecedented and many remain without power.

LAST UPDATE | 25 Jan

THE GOVERNMENT WILL offer financial support to those affected by Storm Éowyn, a minister has said, as hundreds of thousands remain without electricity or water.

The storm – which brought record-breaking gusts of up to 183 km/h – caused widespread damage, with continued disruption to public transport and sporting fixtures this weekend.

Speaking to RTÉ, incoming Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said “supports will be put in place” for businesses and people affected by the storm.

“What exactly they are will be assessed over the coming days and get them out as quickly as possible,” he said.

Here are the latest updates:

  • Status Yellow wind and rain warnings have been issued for several counties, with the earliest kicking in tonight at 11pm. Snow/Ice warnings have also been issued for counties in the north of the country, kicking in at 8pm this evening.
  • Most public transport resumed today after widespread disruption yesterday, but some services have been cancelled or diverted, with parts of the road network affected by fallen trees and other structural damage.
  • The number of people without water supply has climbed to an estimated 217,000, with 300,000 more at risk, according to Uisce Éireann. Meanwhile, power has been restored to 366,000 homes, farms and businesses, 402,000 remain without electricity supply.
  • There have also been multiple sporting postponements, with the storm disrupting the opening weekend of the GAA football league.

Power 

Lost power and water supplies will not be restored to some homes and businesses for several days, utilities have warned, while further difficult weather conditions have been forecast for some areas.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said earlier this morning that a “huge amount of work” will be needed to restore power, water and communications to hundreds of thousands of people.

The Taoiseach said the government will assess what supports it can offer people and support caught up in Storm Éowyn’s aftermath, adding that “every effort” was being made today to get high voltage transmission lines up and running, homes reconnected and water supplies secured.

Keith Leonard, chair of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG), said coming strong winds would not cause extreme difficulties to clean-up efforts.

However, there will be an impact in the areas already worst affected by yesterday’s Storm Éowyn in terms of lost electricity and water, Leonard warned.

He added that there was “very significant” impact on both public transport and road transport. Local authorities were out as soon as they can to clear roads and deal with fallen trees, he said.

Some councils, including Cork County Council, believe the full clean-up in their area will take several days to complete.

Power and water

ESB crews were on site around the country to recommence work on restoring power services at first light.

Siobhán Wynne, ESB Networks regional manager, said Storm Éowyn’s impact was “completely unprecedented” in the state electricity company’s almost 100-year history.

She told RTÉ Radio 1′s Countrywide this morning that the ESB had contacted British and French utilities to ask for help.

“They’re assessing their position now, so we haven’t got confirmation that we will be able to get assistance from both,” Wynne said.

She added that while the ESB’s Power Check website wasn’t able to give assessments of how long people might have to wait for restoration yesterday, this information would become available today as full assessments of the storm’s damage were completed.

The ESB has warned that the severity of Storm Éowyn means power restoration could take more than a week in the worst affected areas.

NIE Networks has warned it could take 10 days to reconnect everyone who lost power in Northern Ireland.

The number of people without water has has come down from 217,000 this morning to 120,000 as of lunchtime. The number of people whose supply is considered to be at risk has fallen to 275,000.

“The situation is very dynamic so estimates above are changing continuously,” a spokesman told The Journal.

He added that Uisce Éireann’s national incident management team is meeting shortly and will issue further updates before lunchtime.

Wind, snow and ice

Further difficult weather conditions are on the way with near gale force southereasterly winds forecast for tomorrow morning, with rain set to bring the risk of localised flooding in the south of the country, and a number of weather warnings issued.

In the province of Munster, as well as Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford, Mayo and Sligo, a Status Yellow wind warning will be in place from 6am until 6pm on Sunday.

There will also be a wind warning in place in Cork, Kerry and Waterford from 11pm on Sunday until 6am on Monday. Met Éireann has warned that it could result in further damage to already weakened structures and trees, as well as dangerous travelling conditions.

A snow/ice warning for Counties Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo has been issued from 8pm tonight to 9pm Sunday morning.

Meanwhile the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Waterford will be under a Status Yellow rain warning from 5am until 5pm tomorrow.

In Northern Ireland, the UK Met Office has issued a Status Yellow snow and ice warning, which will kick in at 6pm this evening and last until 10am Sunday.

A Status Yellow wind warning for the six counties will be in effect from 10am until 7pm tomorrow.

Transport

In terms of transport, all rail services are operating except the Dublin to Sligo and Dublin to Westport/Ballina lines. No bus replacement services are operating on the routes, Iarnród Éireann warned this morning.

The closures are due to a major power outage from the storm, affecting level crossings on both routes, as well as fallen trees on the Westport line.

Separately, northside Dart, northern commuter and the Dublin/Belfast services are affected by planned rail works today and tomorrow.

Some Bus Éireann services are cancelled, while others are not serving all stops on their routes.

The Cavan/Dundalk route 170 is suspended until further notice, while the route 167 Ardee/Dundalk service is suspended until 4pm due to a road obstruction.

Bus Éireann is posting updates on this page.

Dublin’s Luas is operating at normal this morning, while Dublin Bus had mostly resumed normal service by last night.

With reporting from Cormac Fitzgerald

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
92 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel

     
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds