Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The figures provided include the bad winters of recent years, when there were blanket spreads of claims rather than claims from specific geographic areas. Many of these claims were initiated by burst pipes, which occurred across the country, rather than specific flood events which tend to occur over 30 year intervals. It is unusual to experience two very bad winters consecutively. We probably experienced two winters in one year because there was snow in January and December of the same year.

We all use our own areas as examples. I am based in Kildare North, where several flood events have occurred. Some of these events were so traumatic that I can recall the dates on which they occurred. The experience of co-operation between the OPW and the local authority has been quite positive in terms of responding and developing flood defences much more rapidly than the witnesses suggest. A significant amount of public money has been spent on good flood defence systems that have held up against subsequent 50 year or 100 year flood events. However, those who suffered damage in earlier flood events are unable to get insurance or else have to pay increased premiums on their policies.

There was no certification available for people to expunge that record in areas where it had been properly tested and where there was public investment. I believe that certification process is deficient. Has the insurance industry engaged with the OPW on the return on investment from that point of view?

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has advised that there are 1.8 million households in the country and the 2011 census indicated there are 1.995 million.