The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications has outlined that forestry corridors will be created to protect overhead lines in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.

The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O'Brien, met with representatives last week from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and ESB Networks, to discuss the Storm Éowyn response.

The minister requested a number of actions be taken once the initial storm response has been completed. These measures include an enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan.

It is believed the plan is to be developed within the next month, and will be implemented by ESB Networks between March and October to enhance the "resilience of the grid" in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter.

According to the department, the ESB has identified a number of initial actions, including increasing the stock of spare parts for the electricity network, and enhancing relationships with partners across Europe.

Speaking about the measures, Minister O'Brien said: "These storms are becoming more regular and more destructive and there is a need to take immediate action to ensure that we increase the resilience of the electricity system, and therefore of the country, to this type of event."

The impact of Storm Éowyn is still being felt by many farmers in the forestry sector.

In his first address to the Dáil as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) yesterday (February 5), Michael Healy-Rae commented on the ongoing impact of the storm.

"I certainly think we should be making a decision at this juncture that no new build or new development should come with overhead cables.

"Clearly, they are vulnerable to storms and we should always locate them underground," he added.