Crews working to restore power to 12,000 customers following Storm Debi

Helping out to clear up the damage caused to Poppy Seed cafe in Clarinbridge after Storm Debi. Picture: Ray Ryan

ESB networks says 12,000 customers remain without a power supply this morning.

It could be later today before power is fully restored to those without a supply since yesterday due to the extent of the damage caused by Storm Debi.

More than 100,000 homes and businesses were without electricity at the peak of outages on Monday morning.

Irish Water, ESB Networks and several other agencies have been working flat-out to repair damage across the country.

Crews from across the county and Northern Ireland are now working to restore supplies as soon as possible.

Regional Manager with ESB Networks, Brian Tapley, said they are using all the resources they have to solve the issue.

"The areas particularly affected still this morning are Longford, Athlone and Cavan. Crews from Northern Ireland Electricity have come down to help us in those three areas in particular," said Mr Tapley.

We are moving crews from the southeast and southwest of the country up into those affected areas so all the resources we have are being put on that today."

A Government scheme to support people living in homes affected by severe weather has been extended following flooding in Galway city and nearby Oranmore.

Galway councillor Liam Carroll says the storm should urge the Government to take action to protect coastlines from future storms.

"We will need a lot of money to build proper flood defences. The humanitarian one is fine as emergency funding but we need long-term funding to prevent any devastation, to prevent that occurring again," he said.

On Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he is sorry to hear about the impact of Storm Debi on parts of Ireland.

He said the enterprise support scheme, which was introduced following flooding in Midleton last month, has to go through a formal Government decision to be expanded to Galway, but added this is “really just a formality”.

“We really want to help businesses get back on their feet, particularly so close to Christmas, which is such an important time for the retail sector and the hospitality sector in particular.”

On Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he is sorry to hear about the impact of Storm Debi on parts of Ireland. Picture: INPHO/Tom Maher

 

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme will also be extended to other affected areas as required.

Ms Humphreys said: “I’m very conscious of the serious disruption that severe weather and flooding is causing for individuals and families in County Galway, especially in Oranmore and parts of Galway City.” Junior minister Patrick O’Donovan asked people to leave fallen trees on roads and paths to local authorities and ESB workers.

“The warning really to people that are going to go out on the roads is to stay away from trees because they could be very easily entangled with power lines and there is other risks associated with trees,” he told RTÉ Radio.

This is the fourth storm to affect Ireland since September after Storms Babet and Ciaran left shops and homes in Midleton, Carlingford and Newry as well as elsewhere flooded after intense rainfall.

The Irish national director for fire and emergency management said Storm Debi is “probably the most intense storm” of the season so far.

Keith Leonard said: “It was probably the high winds of that leading edge of the storm as it came across the country that was the most hazardous piece.

“So probably the most intense storm we’ve had so far in the season.” An Irish postwoman was taken to hospital after being hit by flying debris in Co Limerick, according to the postal service, but was not seriously injured.

An Post adjusted schedules due to the storm and deliveries in the north, midlands, south and east of the country were delayed due to road conditions and power outages.

- Additional reporting by PA