Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate what the Minister of State is saying and I appreciate we cannot lose business because the cottages in Adare bring business to the town and it is the same in Holycross as they are holiday homes.

We are talking about families who have had to close businesses and who cannot move into houses, in particular. Mr. Darby went to the trouble of doing up the whole house, including taking out fires and doing everything possible. The only thing that has come across over the last couple of years is that insurance companies are doing what they like again right across the sector, not just here. I do not have any personal gripe with the Minister or the Department, but insurance companies are doing what they like right across the sector. It is time we took them on.

Much was said about fire protection measures to attract more companies into the business and provide cover for thatched buildings. I will assume there is a limit to the range of fire prevention measures to which owners can actually give effect. Mr. Darby told us previously that he did everything he possibly could. I am sure those who seek insurance have done that to the limit. Is there a scheme whereby the Government could give continuing funding to protect those structures maintenance-wise? If it is saying the buildings need to be protected, surely there must be some responsibility on the Government. It seems to fall under the remit of a few Departments. Surely, there must be some responsibility for our thatched buildings. The funny thing is that when I was listening to the radio on my way down to County Tipperary yesterday, I heard a thatcher on one of the programmes who has a five-year waiting list to do up buildings. It would be an awful pity for us to lose thatched buildings, which are recognised right across the world as one of our big selling points in tourism and the whole lot. Is there any way the Government can contribute to funding to protect those structures through a grant? If a building with a thatched roof has a fireplace, perhaps funding can be given to take out the fireplace and to do up the house.