The Taoiseach says he understands people are frustrated and angry following Storm Éowyn, and the Government will accelerate investment in the electricity grid.
The issue was raised during an evaluation of the impact of the storm and how the state will respond to future weather events.
74 thousand homes and businesses are without electricity a week after Storm Éowyn, with crews from several countries working to restore power to the worst hit areas.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the country needs to be prepared for stronger and more frequent storms:
"I had an important meeting yesterday to evaluate impact of the storm but also in terms of issues that we will have to address into the future - key among that I've already asked for work to be done to accelerate investment in the grid to future proof it and make it more resilient. If you look at the table over the last 10 years the number and severity of storms of this kind is growing."
Around 30,000 rural homes are unlikely to have electricity restored before Friday (February 5) despite ESB Networks crews, aided by repair crews from the UK, Austria, Finland and France, working from dawn to dusk to tackle grid damage.
Ireland has over 160,000km of overhead power lines which are incredibly vulnerable to such severe storms.
Over 2,800 personnel including expert electrical repair crews from overseas are now working from dawn to dusk to repair storm damage.
"I can fully understand the anger and frustration (of people)," the Taoiseach said as he opened a €132m expansion of the GE Healthcare plant in Cork.
"Any of us who were without power for such an extended period would be very anxious and very worried.
"We are very, very dependent on technology and electricity in the modern world. We are doing everything we possibly can. We have (repair) crews here now from five or six different countries.
"The ESB has similar sister companies in other countries - we help them when they are in need and now they are helping us when we are in need.
"This has been a very severe storm. We have never encountered this, certainly in my lifetime.
"Wind gusts of 183kmh...they are way beyond what would be normal red warning thresholds.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has also said the Department of Social Protection has been directed to provide temporary hotel accommodation for vulnerable people left without power and water for eight days by Storm Éowyn.
Nine schools are being repaired after suffering damage during Storm Eowyn.
The Department of Education says it's providing supports to the affected schools, which remain open.
