Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am very conscious that today, on day 19, some people in my constituency remain without electricity. I do not think anybody can comprehend the difficulty of going without power for two and a half weeks unless they actually experience it themselves. It is desperately difficult for people who have faced extended periods without electricity and that needs to be recognised and compensated for by the State. Many in my constituency are absolutely furious, and rightly so, that they are receiving bills, including the PSO and standing charges, when they went without electricity for extended periods, in many cases up to two weeks or more.

It is unacceptable to charge people who are left without electricity and these charges must be suspended for the period for which people were without power. That is the bare minimum that people should expect. Furthermore, the Government must ensure that the ESB provides a goodwill payment to customers based on the length of time they were without power. The ESB made profits of €898 million last year. This is the very least that should be done to compensate those affected.

In that context, the suggestion by the ESB chief executive that the cost of repairing the electricity network may be borne by customers through increased bills is totally unacceptable. That should be made very clear by Government. In addition, ESB workers and all of those who responded to the storm, including Uisce Éireann, council and emergency service workers and so on, must be acknowledged.

The lack of clarity on the humanitarian assistance scheme and the low payments made so far has been very disappointing, given the additional costs that people faced. Information on the scheme and what is covered is only coming out in dribs and drabs and it is not fair on those affected who could be missing out on what they are entitled to.

I have been contacted by a number of businesses and clubs in my constituency which have lost tens of thousands of euro in stock or damage to their facilities. Insurance will not cover it all or, in some cases, any of it. We know how difficult it is for businesses, clubs, committee organisations at the moment, with increased costs and so on. Losses like these threaten their future. The responses I have received to parliamentary questions is that it is hoped that insurance will cover losses and the issue will be examined, but that is not good enough. These organisations desperately need support, and we need to recognise and provide for that. The same goes for farmers. Many farmers have had damage to sheds, machinery and so on. They cannot be forgotten. The Minister mentioned the extreme weather assistance scheme. We are 90 days on. It is time to wake up and bring forward a scheme for farmers, businesses and clubs.

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