Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for providing that information. I welcome the fact that since I last raised the issue in the House, progress has clearly been made on the way in which information can be shared. I hope this situation will be resolved soon. It is important that we end up with a process that allows the infrastructure provided by the State to be taken into account by companies when deciding on whether they want to insure someone. Given the moneys being invested by local authorities in dealing with this issue, I am gravely concerned that regard is not being given to that infrastructure. I thank the OPW for the seriousness with which it is taking this matter. I want the issue progressed and I will raise it in the House again in the near future.

While it is for an insurance company to decide on whether it wants to offer cover, perhaps we could consider a system through which companies would provide cover to areas that could be at risk while taking this possibility into account when determining the magnitude of the premium to be charged. They would do this instead of providing no insurance at all. The stark reality facing many of my constituents is that they can get no cover at all despite the fact that infrastructure to prevent flooding is either in place or will be in the near future.

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