Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled under legislation to obtain insurance protection for his own private homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38816/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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There is no statutory obligation on insurance companies to provide insurance to householders. Whether an insurance company accepts an insurance proposal in respect of a risk is a commercial decision and insurance companies vary in the business they are prepared to accept. Accordingly, people having difficulty obtaining insurance should shop around as some proposals for insurance may be accepted by one company but declined by others. The financial regulator has published a guide to home insurance entitled Independent Consumer Guide to Home Insurance. This is available from the regulator at www.financialregulator.ie, by telephoning his consumer helpline at 1890 77 77 77 or by calling to his information centre at 6-8 College Green, Dublin 2. In addition, the Irish Insurance Federation provides a free insurance information service for members of the public. The telephone No. is (01) 6761914, and the e-mail address is iis@iif.ie.

Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Finance the estimated projected cost to insurance companies due to accidents and injuries in 2004. [39111/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Insurance Statistical Reviews 2003 and 2004, which gives a breakdown of the business transacted, including claims, in each of those years under the various classes of life and non-life insurance, may be accessed on the financial regulator's website, www.financialregulator.ie, under publications. The 2004 review, published last September, indicates the cost of non-life claims incurred on total Irish risk insurance business in that year amounted to €2,256 million. A further €64 million was paid by the UK-based Lloyds syndicates in respect of non-life claims in Ireland. As regards life assurance, it is not possible to identify the cost of claims attributable to accidents within the total cost of €368 million in respect of claims on death.