Sinn Féin TD Claire Kerrane has today written to the Taoiseach with five key proposals to provide necessary relief to communities across the state ravaged by Storm Éowyn.
She said that affected communities deserve to have their voices heard, and that Micheál Martin’s rejection of Mary Lou McDonald’s request to recall the Dáil this week was political negligence.
She added that at times of national crises, it is essential that the government engages directly with elected representatives to address these acute concerns and to put in place the measures necessary to assist those in need.
Teachta Kerrane said:
“A week after Storm Éowyn, tens of thousands continue to be without power.
“Communities affected face very significant difficulties just to meet their most basic needs. along with significant financial impacts and the isolation experienced by so many in the absence of power, light, heat and telecommunications.
“Since last weekend, I have been doing my best to assist people in my own constituency who have had their homes badly damaged, who have been days without power, water and phone coverage.
“These are people who cannot wash themselves, cook or heat their homes. Many are having to travel long distances just to get phone signal to contact their loved ones.
“Today, on behalf of Sinn Féin TDs in Connacht and Ulster, I have written to the Taoiseach urging him to adopt the following key proposals to provide necessary relief to communities across the state ravaged by Storm Éowyn:
- Establish an emergency accommodation scheme where the provision of hotel vouchers for those individuals from the worst affected areas by the storm can access a hot shower, a bed, and a warm room
- Goodwill payments to be made to households based on the duration of time spent without power, as is happening in other jurisdictions, to be funded by the windfall profits of energy companies
- An increased budget for local authorities to carry out maintenance work on dangerous trees that can pose a risk to power lines to minimise the risk of fallen trees causing widespread power outages
- The ESB to commence a roll-out of generators to medically vulnerable customers othe existing Vulnerable Customers Lisn t so that these customers are better protected in the event of future storms
- Flexibility with the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme for householders, businesses and farmers and ensure insurance companies play their part by not increasing premiums on customers who make claims due to the Storm.
“The people we represent deserve to have their voices heard.
“Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald wrote to the Taoiseach at the start of the week urging him to reconvene the Dáil without delay to address this crisis, and to engage with TDs around a co-ordinated, robust, and cross-departmental response to assist those affected.
“The Taoiseach’s refusal to recall the Dáil was political negligence.
“At times of national crises, it is essential that the government engages directly with elected representatives to address these acute concerns and to put in place the measures necessary to assist those in need.
“It is not acceptable that when frontline workers are out doing their bit that the Dáil is essentially still on holidays.
“People who do not have electricity or water want to know that every arm of the State is working to ensure that their supply is returned without further delay, and that the damage that has been done by the storm is addressed.”
