Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 106: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the person who has responsibility for monitoring the use by insurance companies of data in relation to the flood plains of rivers and previous flooding patterns in setting or raising premiums, or in refusing quotations to new customers; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that insurance companies are citing location in a flood plain as the reason for high premiums or refusing a new quotation in areas where there is no history of flooding (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28059/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware the decision whether to provide any specific form of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter based on the assessment an insurer will make of the risks involved. Data on flood risk is provided to insurers by private companies and the use of such information is a matter for the company concerned in determining whether any particular risk should be underwritten. The representative body for the Insurance industry in Ireland has however indicated to my Department that insurers would seek to continue to provide insurance cover to customers in circumstances where the risk of flooding has increased, but the change in risk would need to be reflected in the terms on which the insurance was offered. It also indicated that it was not aware of specific instances where insurance cover was refused where no history of flooding existed.

The Financial Regulator has no role in relation to issues of pricing or the scope of cover provided by insurance companies. However, an individual, in dealing with an insurance provider can refer any unresolved complaint to the Financial Services Ombudsman for investigation and adjudication. My Department has also been advised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that as regards planning and flood risk, the Planning and Development Act 2000 states that planning authorities may include in their development plans objectives regulating, restricting or controlling development in areas at risk from flooding. Where development is proposed in an area at risk from flooding, it is a matter for each planning authority to evaluate such risk on the basis of a flood risk assessment, where appropriate. In addition, planning permission may either be refused, or, if granted, can be made subject to conditions requiring the implementation of measures necessary to alleviate or avoid damage due to flooding.