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Updated at 9pm
AROUND 248,000 HOMES and businesses have had their power restored, while 169,000 still remain without power in the aftermath of the deadly Storm Ophelia.
So far, 65% of premises that lost power during the extreme weather have had it restored.
ESB Networks has said that the majority of customers will have their power restored in three to four days, but that ”serious damage” remained in the south and southwest.
It added that it was “hopeful” that northwest and Dublin households and businesses would have power restored in full by this evening.
We are also making significant progress in counties Kerry, Laois, Galway, Clare and Westmeath. Cork and Kerry have had power restored to over 100,000 customers.
The power outages are spread all over the country, with the south and south-west particularly badly hit. At the height of the storm 385,000 customers were without power, making it a more damaging storm than 2014′s Storm Darwin.
In a statement, ESB Networks said that its repair crews will be assisted by contractors and crews from other electricity utilities who will travel from Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland this evening to help.
“All available resources from ESB Networks are being deployed to carry out repairs to the network and restore power,” the statement said.
Fallen trees on overhead lines were responsible for most of the damage to the network.
In many cases, crews are having difficulty gaining access to power lines as they are hampered by fallen trees and debris.
ESB Networks said that the crews are prioritising repairs to higher voltage lines. “Restoring power to essential services such as water pumping and sewage facilities, medical facilities and customers with medical needs are a priority,” the statement said.
“We are advising all customers impacted by outages that they should prepare to be without electricity for a number of days. ESB Networks are particularly concerned about customers who use electrically powered medical devices and who are without power. It is important that these customers contact their healthcare professional so that they can receive advice on their care during this period.”
The company is telling members of the public to not touch fallen power lines and to report those to 1850 372 999.
Customers can check PowerCheck for updates.
Phone
Separately, Eir says that it estimates around 30,000 customers are without broadband, telephone and mobile services as result of Storm Ophelia.
While damage has been sustained throughout the country, the southwest and midlands are the worst affected areas and in particular Cork County.
Some large-scale faults in Kinsale, Co Cork and Tralee, Co Kerry have already been restored.
Both Sky Ireland and Virgin Media are advising customers of disruption. A statement by Virgin says:
“Safety is our top priority so it may be possible that some of you in may be still be without service.
“We will endeavour to restore your service as quickly as possible but only when it’s safe to do so.”
Additional reporting by Christine Bohan and Gráinne Ní Aodha
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Of that 63% how many are Irish citizens?
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: if we could deport you ,that would be one less ?
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: if it suits your agenda none but in reality probably the bulk of the 63%
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: most of it!
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: I agree
@Bala mc blaha: he’s entitled to free speech with no interruption from do gooders
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: Most. Dont ask me how I know but I know.
Books could be written
@Bala mc blaha: never on the dole in my life, oh wait sorry, I was out sick for a few months, got my illness benefit, do I deserve to be deported for that?
@Larry Roe: I’ve no agenda. I’m just asking a question. They shout out the headline, but Where’s the breakdown? Are these benefits for new people entering the country or are they for Irish people.
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: Out of that 63% how many are ginger? Or tall? Or middle aged? Or racist? Or downright ignorant? I don’t know but it’s hardly relevant, just as their country of origin is irrelevant. What’s important is many people are struggling and we must endeavour to help as best we can despite our petty prejudices.
@Benny McHale: of course their country of origin is important. Its one thing for our tax money to be spent on people fleeing an invasion, diffrent matter altogether on it being spent on people who arrive in this country just for the hand outs.
@Ciarán Ó Dubhda: How any foreign nationals do you know personally? Because all of them that I know personally, work for hard everything they get.
They work in jobs that many Irish people refuse to do, getting up at 4am to work in a factory, on a site or elsewhere, both the men and women, also many foreign women with school going children are working part-time while their children are in school, rather than watching the telly in their pajamas.
@David Van-Standen: 98% of the company I work for are made up of foreign nationals. A lot of my neighbours are also not Irish. So what? Nothing to do with my original question. I asked for a breakdown of the extra people that have to go on emergency payment. Are we looking after our own?
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