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

I have met the insurance sector. I met all of the CEOs of our insurance companies this year. I met Insurance Ireland a number of weeks ago. I had another meeting this morning with the Alliance for Insurance Reform. In those meetings, all of the focus was on the cost of insurance and some other policy areas. My understanding, though, is that there has been a definite increase in the cost of paying out for flooding across the country as the frequency and severity of those floods have increased over time.

In terms of what we will do to support homes and businesses that are unable to get insurance, the main work is happening at local authority level in the form of putting in place flood relief measures. Local authorities are working with insurance companies to get that work recognised as reducing the risk of flooding. The Deputy will be familiar with this from our own constituency. For example, the OPW has done work in the East Wall and North Strand areas. While it has not brought back the insurance that our constituents had previously, more of them are now able to access insurance than could do so in the aftermath of the flooding that happened a number of years ago. While the premia are still higher than they would want and I would hope, it is positive that the insurance sector has recognised particular projects in making insurance cover available. I hope that as work on, for example, the catchment flood risk assessment and management, CFRAM, project continues across the country, it will be recognised by more insurers in the insurance cover they are willing to make available.

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