‘Way to go’ in Storm Éowyn clean up, says NY Secretary

The Northern Ireland Secretary has said there is still “a way to go” in the clean up of Storm Éowyn.

Homes have been damaged and about 60,000 properties in Northern Ireland remain without power for a fourth day after the storm struck Britain and Ireland last week.

Specialist engineers have flown in from England to help restore power, but Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has warned it could be 3 February before all assets are reconnected.

On a visit to Northern Ireland on Monday, Hillary Benn said the UK government is “working very hard” to help meet Northern Ireland’s requests for support, including mutual aid assistance.

“This is a practical crisis, and what people need is help – engineers, helicopters, bottled water, generators,” the NI secretary said.

“These are the things that make a difference to people on the ground, while they are waiting for their lives to come back together and for power supplies to be restored.”

Benn said the swiftness of engineers arriving in Northern Ireland to help repair the electricity network showed that mutual aid “is the foundation of our country”.

“We will continue to work hard to see that this is the case,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, the First and Deputy First Ministers called on Northern Ireland’s electricity distribution company to provide compensation to those affected by Friday’s storm.

Whether the UK government is promising financial assistance or not, it provides that if the Executive finds itself in a position that it cannot meet the costs, the Finance Minister must make a request to the Treasury.

“There will be a moment to consider the bottom line cost and the situation as it always has been,” Bannon said.

At its peak, 30% of homes in Northern Ireland were without power following widespread damage to the electricity network caused by the storm.

However, Derek Hines, managing director of NIE Networks, has said that it will be “about 10 days until we complete the necessary repairs to get power back to everyone”.

NIE Future Networks director Ronan McKeown said it was “an extremely challenging situation” with his staff working “flat out”.

He estimated most customers would get power back by Thursday.

Earlier, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister called on Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) to “step in” and provide assistance to those still without electricity.

Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengley were speaking after a meeting with NIE and an executive meeting to discuss the storm damage response.

Specialist engineers have flown in from England to help restore power, but Nee warned it could be February 3 before all properties are reconnected.

O’Neill said he had “made the case very strongly to Nee that we believe there should be a goodwill payment”.

Little-Pengley said that “these companies make significant profits every year” and it was important that support was provided in people’s “time of need”.

Little-Pengley said it was “unacceptable” that some were still without power.

He said Nee was due to respond soon to the compensation offer.

The Deputy First Minister said she had highlighted how Scottish energy companies are “stepping up” with equal compensation for customers.

O’Neill said: “It’s a difficult time for people – we’re on day four (without power) for some.

“We’re pushing as hard as we possibly can in terms of connecting as quickly as possible.”

O’Neill also praised the multi-agency response to the storm and said there was “a very constructive conversation” over the weekend with the UK government about seeking additional support.

Meanwhile, 10 schools in Northern Ireland closed on Monday due to structural damage caused by the storm, the education minister said.

The Education Authority (EA) maintenance helpline has been operational throughout the weekend and has received 154 reports of damage to school buildings.

It was severely damaged by missing roof tiles, downed trees, and severe structural damage.