Despite it being over a month since Storm Darwin, several pockets in Tipperary are still without a phone service.
The storm on February 12th resulted in thousands of homes and businesses across the county loosing power….most were restored within a week
However, several residents in Tipperary say their phone lines have still not been repaired almost 6 weeks later.
While everyone accepted that it would take time to restore electricity and phone lines because of the damage caused during the storms of Wednesday February 12th, customers are now starting to lose patience with Eircom.
Crews have been working for over five weeks now to restore landlines to people hit by the storm.
Eileen from Gortnahoe says her elderly mother has been left without a vital lifeline as a result.
Businesses have also been hit – Nollaig is based just outside Cashel and has had to have calls to her business diverted to her mobile which resulted in a bill from Eircom for €245 even though she is without a landline.
Jim Fogarty from Garranroe near Thurles can't figure out why he has also been hit with a bill from Eircom.
Fine Gael Councillor Joe Brennan points out that pensioners are now having to pay for their landline since their phone allowance was cut – he says many elderly people depend on their landline for security.
