Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the implementation measures in place in respect of the protocol between the Office of Public Works and insurance firms in respect of exchange of information on flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47801/14]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In March 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the insurance industry in Ireland, and the Office of Public Works. This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations will work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on completed OPW flood defence schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. The Memorandum came into effect on 1 June, 2014 with an initial tranche of data provided by the OPW to Insurance Ireland in respect of 12 completed flood defence schemes and showing the design, extent and nature of the protection offered by these works. The arrangements set out in the Memorandum represent an ongoing process which, over time, should lead to an improvement in the availability of flood insurance cover. The text of the Memorandum of Understanding and further information on the process is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie

Since the signing of the Memorandum, contact has continued between OPW and Insurance Ireland. The implementation of the Memorandum has been discussed at a number of meetings held in recent weeks at both official and Ministerial level involving Insurance Ireland, the Office of Public Works and the Department of Finance. Work is ongoing in OPW to prepare a further tranche of data on completed flood defence schemes in the agreed format for transfer to Insurance Ireland.

Insurance Ireland has been requested by both the OPW and the Department of Finance to provide a report on the position regarding implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding since it came into effect in June 2014, this report to include specific information on:

- What specific actions have been taken by the insurance industry to meet its obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding

- The extent to which insurance companies are using the details provided by OPW on completed schemes to re-assess flood risk in the benefiting areas

- What impact is this actually having on the availability of flood cover where not previously available and/or on the cost of that cover to households/small business?

Insurance Ireland has indicated that will be in a position to provide this report shortly and that early indications are that it shows an improvement in the overall position.

Further regular meetings will continue between the OPW, the Department of Finance and Insurance Ireland on this matter.