Kevin Moran (Longford-Westmeath, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge what the Deputy said about the good work my Department and the local authorities do, and I also recognise that. Earlier this year thanks to my colleague on my right, the Minister for Finance, I secured €1 billion for the protection of the people's property, 95% of whom will have their property protected as a result of putting in place of flood defences over the next ten years.

Where we have installed defences, we have passed on that information to the insurance companies. Coverage has increased from 77% to 82%, which is a major improvement on where we were. Insurers are now acknowledging work that has been done by insuring people.

I was down the country yesterday. Everywhere I go, people ask me to let their schemes start so that they can be protected and that they will worry about insurance afterwards. That is not the answer that some want to hear, but protecting these people is my priority. I have worked with Insurance Ireland and provided it with information to try to make sure that it picks up on the work we are doing and insure the people in question.

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