The Minister for Transport and Climate has accused opposition parties of “politicising” the fallout from Storm Eowyn, as the Government faces pressure to recall the Dail.
Darragh O’Brien has also praised the “exceptional” preparation by Government agencies in the lead-up to Friday’s nationwide red-level weather event.
More than 200,000 premises remain without power, while 100,000 households are without water following damage caused by the storm.
The clean-up operation is under way across the country, but up to 100,000 premises could be waiting another week before their electricity supplies are restored.
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Sinn Fein, Social Democrats and Aontu are among the parties calling for an early return of the Dail.
In response to calls for the Dail to return before February 5, Mr O’Brien said no speech in parliament would return power to people’s homes.
“This is a whole government, whole of agency approach. To be very frank, the recall of the Dail, and maybe people trying to politicise an event like this, is not where we should be at,” he said.
“People should be continuing to support our local authorities, continuing to support our emergency services, to get that power and water restored, to assist.
“A lot of TDs and councillors (are) doing this across the country, you’re part of those community groups across the country and actually supporting people, looking after our most vulnerable.
“We’ve been very, very clear in the preparation for the storm and also in the response to the storm itself, in ensuring that we’ll be able to bring services back to our people.
“That has to be the focus of government, and no speech in Dail Eireann is going to restore power or water or assist a community.
“The preparation that has gone on has been exceptional to deal with this unprecedented storm.”
He said the “vast majority” would have their power restored by Friday, while a full restoration to power could run into next week.
There remain approximately 228,000 homes, farms and businesses without power and approximately 105,000 premises and homes without water.
Speaking after a meeting of the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) on Monday, Mr O’Brien added: “We established 14 emergency response hubs, and they’re already up and running – 11 in Cavan, two in Laois and one in Westmeath. Several more emergency response hubs are in the process of being set up, and local authorities are also linking in with existing community-led hubs to provide support.
“I want to assure people that across government, across all of our state agencies, that there’s a co-ordinated approach to restore power, water and communications to all households and all businesses.
“But this will run into next week, and in the meantime, we need to support our people and communities through this very difficult phase with a particular focus on the most vulnerable.”
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said: “We have established our emergency hubs to ensure that families and those who are most vulnerable have what they need, in terms of showers, food, any assistance they need.
“We also have, under the scheme for emergency payments, took away the means test, which is very important, that people will not get bogged down in any red tape.
“If you need help, people can just ask for it, in terms of white goods and furniture, or any other capital items that households may need.
“We have a means-test increase now, 50,000 euro for single, 90,000 for a couple, and 15,000 for every dependent child. So we’re doing a huge amount of work to respond to the most vulnerable, which is so important.”
Mr O’Brien said that more than 600 people from government and local government agencies had worked in preparation for the storm.
“The communications in advance of this storm and indeed others, has been very clear,” he added.
Keith Leonard, chair of the NECG (National Emergency Co-ordination Group), said: “Every resource that could be brought to bear in the state was mobilised to support ESB networks.
“We’ve checked with ESB networks to date to ensure that they have every resource they need, and they’ve confirmed to us in a number of meetings that they’re satisfied that they have all the resources available that they can use.”