Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas le gach Teachta as a gcuid óráidí inniu. I thank Deputies who have spoken for their engagement in recent weeks on direct cases. That engagement will continue.

We are now in the stage where we can look back at the storm and learn lessons from it. Many Deputies have put forward good suggestions this evening, which will be taken on board because, unfortunately, the precedent, as I said previously, has been set. These storms will be repeated. It is important the frameworks are still solid and I commend the rapid response by many local authorities, ESB Networks staff on the ground, Uisce Éireann and by staff in my own Department and the Department of Social Protection, and many response agencies. I thank many NGOs and community organisations and also our independent local radio sector, which broadcast live right across the country during the night of the storm, including my own station Midwest Radio.

We are now continuing to look at what needs to be done. There are still people to be reconnected to power tonight and we are particularly focusing on telecommunications and broadband connectivity for many who continue to experience either outages or poor service. The review is under way and I will take on many of the suggestions that have been made by Deputies across the Chamber in the context of that review.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy O'Brien, has met with representatives from the CRU, ESB and ESB Networks to discuss the impact of Storm Éowyn. Immediate actions to increase the resilience of the electricity grid system ahead of winter 2025 will be taken as well as the planned grid enhancements to the end of 2030. There will be a full review by ESB Networks and the CRU of the planned grid enhancement and priorities within the next five-year price review process to take account of the impact of Storm Éowyn. A final decision on the CRU's strategic workforce plan will be taken by the end of this quarter. The Government has previously approved a €4 billion investment in the onshore electricity grid for 2021 to 2025. A baseline investment of €10.1 billion for 2026 to 2030 has been sought by ESB Networks with scope for that to rise to €13.4 billion. A final decision is expected and this will include increased spending on asset management on underground cables and in particular on the replacement of ageing overhead lines and poles. ESB Networks will also massively scale up its timber cutting programme. Deputy Fitzmaurice and many others mentioned the need for timber corridors. All of that will be taken on board.

Uisce Éireann is also protecting and future-proofing Ireland's water infrastructure. Uisce Éireann needs to review the impact of Storm Éowyn and learn the lessons to ensure there is greater resilience within its network but also across the DBOs mentioned by Deputy Fitzmaurice and group water schemes. Uisce Éireann must examine the requirements for additional generators and alternative power solutions. We are asking it to continue to work with the relevant Departments to ensure enhanced levels of readiness for future extreme weather events.

In the Department of Social Protection, we continue to support individuals and families through the humanitarian assistance scheme. The programme for Government includes a commitment to develop an extreme weather event assistance scheme for community organisations, farmers and businesses. I say in reply to Deputy Fitzmaurice that this will be brought forward as a matter of priority.

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