Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have a few questions. If one looks at the Public Gallery there are families who are struggling to get insurance now. Ms McNelis's mother had to close her business and Mr. Darby cannot move into his house. It is all well and good talking about surveys and more reports. I am quite sure there are files of reports on this. I came through Adare last week and Holycross in Tipperary is only a couple of miles from me and I go by it on a regular basis. We said during the committee meeting in September that unless something is done, and quickly, we run a massive risk of only seeing thatched places on postcards. I think it was Mr. Darby who said that the last day. Surely that should ring alarm bells straight away with Ministers or the Government.

I have a question for the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who said in his opening statement that "Action 6 of A Living Tradition is to 'enhance the protection and conservation of historic thatched roofs'. One of the most persistent issues for built vernacular heritage is ensuring the survival of these buildings". Why was no action taken on this issue when it became clear that insurance companies would not cover them? We have listened to Ms McNelis who told the committee about her mother having to close down her business, a rural pub in Tipperary, because she could not get insurance. Surely something should have been done and alarm bells should have been ringing before it got to a stage where families had to close businesses or were unable to move into their houses?