Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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210. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform since 1 June 2014 if he will list the areas that are covered under the memorandum of understanding between the Office of Public Works and insurance companies; if the OPW is monitoring the implementation of its terms; if it has been confirmed that homeowners can now access flood insurance in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28410/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that on the 24 March this year then Minister Brian Hayes announced details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of Public Works and Insurance Ireland on the exchange of information on flood defence works. This Memorandum of Understanding outlines the principles of agreement between the OPW and Insurance Ireland on the information being provided and how it will be used by the insurance industry. The OPW will provide Insurance Ireland with data on all completed OPW flood defence schemes which will show the design, extent and nature of the protections offered by these works. Insurance Ireland members will then take into account all information provided by the OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these areas, from 1 June 2014 onwards. The provision of cover and level of premiums charged and policy terms applied are a matter for individual insurers.

This is an important step forward for people in areas where flood defences have been provided by the OPW, as the OPW and Insurance Ireland are now working together to ensure that the flood defence works undertaken in recent years are being taken into account by the insurance industry. There has been a substantial investment of €320 million by the State in all parts of the country on flood relief works since 1995, with over 10,500 properties protected and benefits estimated at more than €1 billion in damage and losses avoided. While the Memorandum of Understanding does not provide any guarantee that insurance against flooding will be available in the relevant areas, I consider it important that the benefits of that investment in flood relief are felt by all members of those communities.

The OPW has to date provided information on 12 completed flood relief schemes in an agreed format to Insurance Ireland, and this information is now available to the insurance companies. It has also been published on the OPW website . The 12 Schemes on which information has been provided are:

Clonmel (River Suir) Dublin (River Dodder Tidal)

Dublin (River Tolka)

Dublin Fingal (River Tolka)

Duleek (River Nanny)

Dunmanway (River Bandon)

Ennis (River Fergus Upper) Fermoy (River Blackwater)Kilkenny City (River Nore)

Meath (River Tolka)

Mornington (River Mornington)

Tullamore (River Tullamore)

The OPW will continue to transfer data on flood relief schemes to Insurance Ireland as and when they are completed.