ESB management says less than 8,000 homes and businesses are still without power this morning following storms last week.

A statement this morning says additional crews are being brought in from the UK to join the reconnection effort.

Once they have completed a safety induction, they will be deployed to the worst affected areas including Kerry, Newcastlewest in Limerick, Tipperary, and Enniscorthy in Co. Wexford.

Over the past four days, from Thursday to Sunday, the ESB say they have replaced approximately 1,700 poles, 400 kilometres of conductor and 400 transformers.

The firm says that while the effort to clear all the safety hazards - primarily caused by fallen trees - continues to be their highest priority, they are asking the public not to go near fallen lines and in particular to warn children of this danger as they may be outside playing during mid-term break.

Customers without power can check for updates on when their fault is expected to be repaired at: www.esbpowercheck.ie, via Twitter at @ESBNetworks or telephone 1850-372-999.

Over 3,500 faults are still waiting to be fixed in the coming days.

Pat O'Connor lives in Tarbert Co. Kerry and has been cut off since last Wednesday. He spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about how he has managed.