Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The focus of my question relates to areas where the OPW has completed flood relief schemes at great cost to the taxpayer and where insurance companies have refused to reinstate flood cover, both for homes and businesses. I know the Government met with the insurance companies in January. I understand there is an interdepartmental group due to report this month. The Minister might confirm if that is expected to happen in May. The key issue that will have to be resolved is the view that the insurance industry is taking with regard to demountable defences. We are about to spend hundreds of millions of euro as a country rolling out flood relief schemes around the country over the next number of years, which involve demountable defences that are commonly used across Europe that meet the required standard under the European Commission but which are not recognised by the insurance industry as being of the same standard as permanent fixed defences. That issue will have to be resolved. I hope the Minister can give an update to the House on that.

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