Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

On the last question raised by Deputy Ó Ríordáin about floods and insurance, I have visited many parts of the country and spoken to many communities. A number of them have seen important work carried out by the local authority or the OPW but they still cannot get insurance. I have already met with the Irish Insurance Federation and I hope to be in a position to announce a new protocol over the next month which will give a measure of better communication with the Irish Insurance Federation and the insurance companies, whereby they will know the work we have done and will take account of that. Where the State invests colossal sums of money it is utterly wrong that the insurance companies do not provide the insurance cover.

The Deputy spoke about people being unable to get insurance cover. That is a very real issue for communities throughout the country. My officials are in discussion with the Insurance Federation to see whether we can make some progress on this issue because I am determined that we have a much better means of communication between our Department and the insurance companies that they understand that funding is being put in place.

Deputy Billy Timmins spoke about the emergency response and was critical of it. We have got to learn lessons from this. In the first instance, it is the local authority's responsibility to lead with other local authorities in responding to the crisis. We need to review that and it will be done. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, it comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government but I will ensure the Minister is made aware of the Deputy's comments and the comments of Deputies Eoghan Murphy, Joe Costello and other colleagues about the lack of response that occurred.

Deputy Costello raised the question of flood alert. I understand it is the responsibility of Met Éireann to inform Dublin City Council or whichever local authority and it is the decision of the local authority to declare a flood alert. It must be asked why this did not happen.

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