Tully requests urgent debate on storm effects
Sinn Féin Senator Pauline Tully has requested that a debate be held on the response to Storm Éowyn as soon as possible.
Demanding that lessons be learned to prevent such devastation happening again, the former TD stated that Cavan and surrounding counties were “particularly affected” by the loss of power.
Speaking in the Seanad last week, she said some areas were almost three weeks without electricity, which she said is totally unsatisfactory and cannot be allowed to happen again.
“Some customers were only reconnected with power this week, meaning they were 19 days without power. I was nine days without power, and that was difficult enough. I also particularly mention people who are vulnerable. There were older people, people dependent on oxygen and people dependent on hospital beds and hoists, which are electronically managed, who ended up with bed sores because they could not use their hospital bed. Something needs to be done to address that.”
Raising the need for generators in some cases, Senator Tully also highlighted the fact that many people are still without a broadband connection, rendering people who work from home unable to do so.
“There seems to be a very poor response from broadband providers. That needs to be highlighted, called out and addressed immediately.”
Senator Tully did however commend the immense community spirit among local organisations, but felt the government response was too slow and inadequate when it did come.
“The humanitarian assistance scheme needs to be looked at and adjusted because it is being interpreted differently depending on which Social Protection Office one goes into in which county. It needs to be standardised so that everybody gets the same treatment and gets sufficient treatment to ensure they are recompensed for losses.”
She also believes that more needs to be done to support businesses in cases where insurance companies may not pay out for damages.
“We need to ensure that insurance companies pay out for damages caused during this storm and not find a loophole to avoid doing so.”