A team of about 150 ESB workers is expected to leave for France today to help repair damage caused by this week's storms, which have left about two million households there without power.
The ESB network technicians, supervisors and engineers will join an international group assisting the French electricity supplier, EDF, to repair the storm damage.
Some of those who will be travelling to France missed spending Christmas with their families through being called out to restore power supplies to homes in parts of Cork and Kerry last weekend.
The request for help from the ESB was made by the French Government through the Department of Public Enterprise on Wednesday. "As a close neighbour and friend, Ireland must provide whatever assistance it can to ease the plight of the people affected", the Minister, Ms O'Rourke, said yesterday.
A company spokesman commented: "ESB staff feel a great affinity with their French counterparts, given the weather Ireland has experienced over the past three Christmases, and in particular the severe storm damage in 1997 and 1998."
ESB crews were also called on to help out in the aftermath of severe storm damage in Britain in the early 1990s.
The members of the ESB team were being brought together yesterday and the company expects their equipment and vehicles to be shipped to France today. Senior ESB managers will be on hand to co-ordinate the repair operation.
It was unclear yesterday how long the members of the Irish repair crews would be expected to remain in France.
"There has been a fantastic response from staff to the appeal for help. It is no small contribution to give up your time," the ESB spokesman said.