Way to go yet in Storm Éowyn clean-up - NI secretary

There is still a "way to go" in the clean-up of Storm Éowyn, the Northern Ireland Secretary has said.

Homes have been damaged and about 50,000 properties in Northern Ireland remain without power for a fourth day after high winds battered the UK and Ireland last week.

Specialist engineers have arrived from England to help restore power, but Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has warned it could be 3 February before all properties are reconnected.

On a visit to Northern Ireland on Monday, Hilary Benn said the UK government is "working very hard" to help meet the requests for support for Northern Ireland, including through the mutual support aid.

"This is a practical crisis, and what people need is help - engineers, helicopters, bottled water, generators," the NI Secretary said.

"These are the things that make a difference to people on the ground while they're waiting for their lives to get back together and for the electricity supply to be restored."

Benn said the quickness of engineers arriving in Northern Ireland to help repair the electricity network shows that mutual aid "is the foundation of our country".

"We will continue to work hard to see that that is the case," he added.

Responding to whether the UK government would be pledging financial support, the NI secretary said if the executive found itself in the position that it could not cope with costs, the finance minister should make the request to the Treasury.

"Down the line will be a moment to consider cost and the position is as it has always been," Benn said.

Earlier on Monday, the first minister and deputy first ministers called on Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) to "step up" and provide support to those still without power.

Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly were speaking after a meeting with NIE and an Executive meeting which discussed storm damage response.

Specialist engineers have arrived from England to help restore power, but NIE has warned it could be 3 February before all properties are reconnected.

O'Neill said they "made the case very strongly to NIE that we believe there should be a goodwill payment".

Little-Pengelly added that "these companies make significant profits every year" and it was important that support was provided in people's "time of need".

Little-Pengelly said that it was "unacceptable" that some are still without power.

The deputy first minister said they had highlighted how Scottish energy companies "have been stepping up" with similar compensation for customers.

O'Neill added: "This is a difficult time for people – we're into day four [without electricity] for some.

"We are pushing as hard as we possibly can in terms of getting everybody connected as quickly as possible."

O'Neill also commended the multi-agency response to the storm and said there was "a very constructive conversation" over the weekend with the UK government about seeking additional support.

On Monday evening, NIE Networks Managing Director Derek Hynes said he was aware of the ministers' suggestion of a goodwill payment.

"We are engaged with the ministers on this matter, but our primary focus right now is to continue our work to restore power to all affected customers across Northern Ireland. "

At its peak, 30% of homes in Northern Ireland were without power following extensive damage to the electricity network caused by the storm.

About 1800 customers without electricity have been classed as vulnerable, but NIE only has 200 generators to help those households.

However, NIE's Mr Hynes has said it could take "around 10 days" to complete all repairs.

Mr Hynes told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme that over the course of the day, his team has been talking to the utility regulator and the department for economy about compensation options.

Mr Hynes explained rules and regulations are different in Northern Ireland than in Great Britain, were Ofgem regulate the main electricity operators.

"The rules in GB were changed in terms of guaranteed standards a few years ago so what we would like to do is implement something similar in Northern Ireland... to reflect the hardship that people are suffering and going through."

Options include "picking a well-established model like the ones that they have in Great Britain, that Ofgem have consulted on".

These standards could provide "certainty" for customers' expectations in the event of significant disruption, he added.

When asked when these changes could happen, Mr Hynes added: "I don't see how we can implement something immediately, the intention is to do it as quickly as possible and then it will be probably something that will be retrospectively applied."

He added it was the NIE's intention to "articulate all of the things we think make up a robust compensation regime to the government over the course of tomorrow" and then agree a plan as to how it can be implemented.

The storm has also affected water supplies in some parts of Northern Ireland.

On Monday evening, NI Water's director of engineering and sustainability, Gary Curran, told BBC News NI that it was an "improving situation".

He said there were currently less than 1,000 customers off supply and that he believes that that number is "dropping as the day goes on" and "will hopefully continue to drop tomorrow".

About 60 schools in Northern Ireland closed on Monday due to structural damage caused by Storm Éowyn, a Department of Education spokesperson said.

Twenty-five schools have indicated that they will not or may not open on Tuesday.

The Education Authority (EA) maintenance helpline has been operational throughout the weekend and received 154 reports of damage to school buildings.

It ranged in severity from missing roof tiles, fallen trees and serious structural damage.

NIE has said there are 11 Community Assistance Centres and more than 60 drop-in centres open until 19:00 GMT to help those without power.

Facilities offered range from showers, food, hot drinks, and work-from-home hubs. NIE Networks reps are available for support.

To report faults or emergencies you should contact:

Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 03448 920 901

Openreach Damages to Network: 08000 23 20 23 (Individual faults must be logged with Communications Providers)

Gas networks: 0800 002001

NI Water: 03457 44 00 88 or visit niwater.com, external

Flooding Incident Line: 0300 2000 100

NIE Networks: 03457 643 643 or visit nienetworks.co.uk