Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for Ireland to enhance its resilience against increasingly frequent storms, as 30,000 homes and businesses continue to lack electricity following the destructive passage of Storm Éowyn.
In the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, which swept across Ireland, Taoiseach Micheál Martin stressed the need for greater resilience against such weather events, which are becoming more common due to climate change. As of the report, approximately 30,000 customers are still without power, with the most significant outages in the northwest, West Galway, Leitrim, Cavan, and Mayo.
The ESB (Electricity Supply Board) has mobilized over 3,000 network technicians, including 400 from abroad, to restore electricity. However, the reconnection phase is more complex now, with ESB indicating that it might take until the following Thursday to reconnect all customers. The storm has also disrupted water supplies, leaving about 1,000 without water, though services have been largely restored.
Martin highlighted the urgency of adapting to the impacts of climate change, suggesting a significant investment in the electricity grid and better backup systems for water treatment plants operated by Uisce Éireann. The utility company, which supplies 4.5 million people, saw power disruptions at treatment plants affecting around a million individuals.
In response to the crisis, humanitarian hubs have been established across affected regions like Galway, Donegal, Mayo, and Roscommon, offering basic amenities like showers, phone charging, and hot food.
This event has sparked a conversation on the preparedness of Ireland’s infrastructure for future storms, with the Taoiseach acknowledging public frustration while promising evaluations to better prepare for similar events in the future.
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