THIS is the moment new Taoiseach Micheal Martin was confronted and accused of failing to plan properly for Storm Eowyn by a woman who has been without power and water for days.
Rachel Connolly, from Co Roscommon, is one of 168,000 households still without power five days after wicked storm.
And she let Fianna Fail leader Martin know exactly how she felt as he visited a community hub in Castlerea today.
In response to the ongoing crisis after the violent winds on Thursday night, emergency response hubs are being set up in the worst impacted areas.
These hubs will allow people access to water, showering facilities, broadband, clothes washing facilities, charging stations, hot drinks and hot meals.
However, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group has said it is up to the local athorities to establish these spaces and warned that the facilities may not be set up everywhere.
Rachel said residents in the area are “very concerned” about the lack of basic handwashing facilities in homes and the loss of food.
And she also told of of being “very, very frustrated” at being forced to dump “the entire contents” of her fridge and freezer for a third time in 12 months.
When Mr Martin told Rachel a scheme is available to replenish the cost of the food through the Community Welfare Office, she said the public have not been told how to access it and currently have very little access to the internet.
Rachel, who said this is her fourth time losing power in the last 12 months, said her electricity is not due to return until February 5 and told the Cork TD that communities have been left to fend for themselves.
She explained that simple and basic needs – like handwashing – “are impossible for days at a time without power and water.”
Rachel continued: “Why didn’t you have something in place before, you knew this was coming. I’ve no power until February 5.
“The only people who were prepared for this in my home and my village is the people who live there.
“I’ve had no contact from any member of any authority of any part of the government. I’m very, very frustrated.
“No handwashing facilities in a house for seven days isn’t acceptable. You need to listen to us.”
Areas across Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Donegal and Longford have been told they could be without power for more than a week after the storm made landfall.
And nearly 100,000 are still without water after the weather event. However, some 112,000 people are being supplied by generators that have been deployed by Uisce Eireann crews.
‘PLANS DIDN’T WORK’
The Taoiseach told Rachel he understood her points and anger and that the National Emergency Co-ordination Group met with “every single agency” and local authority in the country and that they all made plans ahead of the storm.
But Rachel blasted that “those plans didn’t work”.
The Taoiseach said: “The ESB, everybody submitted their resilience plans before the storm.
“The first priority of a storm of this severity, and it was the worst storm we had in 50 or 60 years, was to save lives and prevent loss of lives.”
Rachel responded: “I am not a politician and I am going to make this point” about the lack of running water.
‘NOT ACCEPTABLE’
She said a “breakdown in hygiene” in “one of the wealthiest countries in the world” is “not acceptable” and “not good enough”.
Rachel claimed that the government should provide people with a grant that allows households purchase a residential wind turbine, two solar panels and a battery, claiming that people “don’t want to be dependent” on the grid.
Connolly added: “We need to get off your system, your system is failing.”
The Taoiseach also met firefighters and local authority staff in Ballaghaderreen and members of the community at St Brigid’s GAA Club in Athlone today.
Якщо ваші капці набули неприємного аромату, це не привід купувати нові, адже є кілька способів, як вирішити це питання швидко, і без зусиль. Розповідаємо про методи, перевірені досвідом господинь. Домашні капці з часом набувають неприємних ароматів, адже ноги пітніють, особливо в теплу погоду. Та і взуваємо ми їх часто одразу після того, як прийшли з […]
