A derogation on tree felling and hedge cutting for certain areas is needed this March to be prepared for future storms, according to a TD.

Fine Gael's Paula Butterly said that lessons can be learned from Storm Éowyn for future storms to prevent the loss of power and the delays to restoring power that occurred.

At the peak of the storm, 768,000 people lost power supply and 130,000 people were left without water.

In some cases, people were waiting for over two weeks for power to be restored.

“In the aftermath of Storm Éowyn, ESB and landowners faced the mammoth task of clearing fallen trees and debris from roads and land. One of the major challenges in restoring power was the quantity of trees that had fallen," Deputy Butterly said.

“The issue of the proximity of trees to broadband cables and parts of the electricity grid must be addressed before the next storm. Storms don’t wait to see is there a ban on felling trees or cutting hedges back," she added.

The Louth TD said that restrictions around the height and quantity of trees around power lines need to be considered.

"This can only be achieved by allowing ESB to collaborate with local authorities, landowners and licensed tree surgeons to fell or cut back any trees in close proximity to electrical wires, buildings and roads, irrespective of whether they are healthy or not," Deputy Butterly said.

Under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, the cutting, grubbing, burning or other destruction of vegetation growing on “any land not then cultivated” is banned between March 1 and August 31 annually.

“The potential of damage to life, the disruption to families in their homes and the cost to communities and businesses as a result of storm damage is too great not to warrant a derogation.

“Current legislation allows landowners and public authorities only to cut hedges during the closed period for road safety reasons, but we need to see this extended so that if there are concerns powerlines could be impacted with adverse weather that they may also get an exemption," Deputy Butterly said.

The TD said that funding must be allocated to the relevant bodies to carry out these essential works "as failing to do so would be more costly in the long term".

“The minister for forestry and the minister for nature, heritage, and biodiversity must seriously consider implementing this derogation, so people across the country can be reassured that when the next storm hits, everything has been done to ensure power is not lost and where it is lost, can be recovered quickly," she said.