10 customers in Drum, Co. Monaghan remain without phone and / or broadband today, 10 weeks after storm, Éowyn. Eir also confirmed a small number of faults in Cornafean, Co. Cavan and Lisdoonan in Monaghan today.
In a statement, the telecommunications company blames "damaged aerial cables and fallen trees" for the ongoing issues. In the initial three weeks after Storm Éowyn, Eir resolved 1,590 individual faults. But, they say restoration efforts were hampered by fallen trees obstructing access to essential equipment which led to delays "in certain areas".
The statement also says work was also slowed by "the inability of local authorities to assist with tree removal, citing landowner responsibility." As a result Eir had to hire in specialist contractors from outside the jurisdiction which was made more complex by post-Brexit bureaucracy.
The statement says restoring service remains Eir's top priority and "all reported faults in the area are scheduled for resolution in the coming days". But, Age Friendly Cavan advocate, Brian McDermott, says older people who rely on landlines for their personal safety and wellbeing are worst affected:
