Storm Éowyn: ESB making progress but 76,000 still without power

James Cox

The majority of customers without electricity in Co Meath can expect to see their supply restrored this evening, according to the latest data on the ESB Networks Powercheck website.

ESB Networks have made progress in repairing the damage done from Storm Eowyn but 76,000 homes, farms and businesses are still without power.

Electricity has been restored to 692,000 customers.

Parts of Kells, Bohermeen, Duleek, Athboy and Donacarney are still without power a week on from the devastating storm that left no part of the country unscathed.

The National Emergency Coordination Group has confirmed generators are being provided by Poland and Denmark to get water, phone and broadband back.

Regional manager with ESB Networks Siobhan Wynn said even after power is restored to everyone it will still have work to do.

Ms Wynn told Newstalk: "For several weeks after a storm we will be involved in remediating the network, and even finding faults long after everybody has their power back.

"There will be a body of work to be done in the coming weeks for us, but at the moment our priority is to restore power to people as quickly and safely as possible."

Almost 3,000 people are helping ESB technicians to restore power to thousands as the Government faces anger from communities about the response to Storm Éowyn.

That number, up by 200 people since Wednesday, includes retired ESB staff and workers from six different countries: the UK, Austria, Finland, France, the Netherlands and Germany.