Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today, people in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway are on day 19 without electricity. In some cases, that means no heating in their homes and no water - for 19 days.

I take this opportunity, following on from the statements we made last week, to raise a number of continuing issues, particularly for businesses, farmers and customers affected by the power outages. There continues to be confusion about supports for businesses. I contacted the Minister for enterprise and his Department. The second point on the reply referred to the humanitarian assistance scheme. Then the section told me it was not providing supports to businesses. Now I have got a further reply from the Department of enterprise telling me and businesses about what insurance does. Of course, businesses are more than aware of that. The Department's reply goes on to tell me the programme for Government includes a commitment to an extreme weather event assistance scheme, that this will be looked at to be delivered within the timeframe of the current Government and that it is still to be fully worked through. This is of no benefit to, nor could I hand it to, any business in my constituency that is without supports. Something specific needs to be put in place for businesses and it should have been done a week and a half ago.

In relation to farmers, I rang the HAS phone line and was told sheds for farmers were covered. I made that information available to a number of farmers and then it became apparent they were not covered after all. This is what happens when the Dáil does not sit as it should sit. There is misinformation and confusion, and nobody knows what is what. Supports are needed that are still not in place 19 days later, which is not good enough. I heard from a farmer yesterday who spent €6,000 repairing a shed after the last storm and does not have €6,000 to put in again.

The insurance companies need to be taken to task by the Government and to be told that people who make a claim through no fault of their own should not have their premiums increased next year.

Last and most important, storms are storms and are not the fault of the ESB but the ESB has to take responsibility for the lack of resilience in the electricity infrastructure and for trees falling on power lines. It is its job and responsibility to secure its power lines. It failed to do that and it has caused devastation. The ESB needs to play its part, provide the goodwill payment and suspend the standing charges and PSO levy. That is the very least the CEO of the ESB should do. His attitude to date is really disappointing and has caused great anger among those affected.

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