Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding home insurance in respect of residents (details supplied) in Dublin 3 who are having problems as the seafront is considered a potential sea flood issue. [5881/13]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I am well aware of the difficulties some people have been experiencing in securing insurance cover for flood risk at affordable prices or at all.

Homeowners experiencing difficulties can contact the Irish Insurance Federation free Insurance Information Service. Their service can be contacted at (01) 676 1914 or by email at iis@iif.ie.

If they need to pursue the matter further they can contact the Financial Services Ombudsman who deals independently with unresolved complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial service providers. The Office can be contacted at and is a free service to the complainant.

On foot of my constructive engagement with the insurance industry last year, I indicated that I wished to see an agreement reached as quickly as possible between the Office of Public Works and the IIF on a sustainable system of information sharing in relation to completed flood alleviation schemes and works undertaken by the OPW or, in certain instances, by local authorities with OPW funding, and where the standard of protection afforded by these works could be verified.

Work has been ongoing in OPW on compiling information on such completed flood defence works in an appropriate format. A working group has been established between OPW, the IIF and representatives of several insurance companies to progress the work further. The first meeting of this working group took place in January.

I am confident that good progress can be made on the exchange of information in order that the insurance industry can be better informed as to the extent and standard of investment by the OPW in flood protection measures and that that investment is taken fully into account in assessing flood risk for insurance purposes

As the Deputy is aware, Dublin City Council developed proposals for a flood defence scheme to provide protection against coastal flooding in the Clontarf area, for which the OPW agreed to provide funding. However, when the proposals were exhibited to the public by the Council there were a number of objections and as a result the scheme did not proceed. If alternative proposals are developed by the Council, they will be considered for funding by the OPW having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.