Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour)

I have raised this matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, previously and he has engaged with the IIF, but not enough is being done. Last night, I met residents in the Artane area who were still suffering the consequences of floods in 2008 and 2009 and on 24 October 2011. If one cannot get house insurance, one's home is effectively worthless, as no incoming buyer can get a mortgage without house insurance.

This situation is out of the control of residents. Many of the areas were not affected in the 2002 Dublin floods and whatever has since occurred is probably a question for the local authority, but the residents are unable to get flood insurance for their homes. Will the Minister of State ask the IIF to engage more readily with local authorities in finding solutions to the flooding problems that clearly still exist? This is not just a local constituency issue, given the fact that the situation in Cork is on many people's minds as well. The problem affects other constituencies. The city council does not seem to be undertaking a process to reach a solution in respect of the River Naniken in Artane. Will the Minister of State update us on the councils' negotiations with the IIF? Residents need house insurance if their homes are not to be made worthless by a situation that is beyond their control.

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