Gabrielle McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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613. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps that can be taken to address the situation where insurance companies are charging higher premiums to those who own protected structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17837/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of issues, such as higher premiums, surrounding insurance cover for historic buildings. I understand that officials of my Department have met with both the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority and the Irish Insurance Federation (now Insurance Ireland) to discuss this matter. My Department is also engaging with local authority Architectural Conservation Officers and other stakeholders in collating specific information regarding historic buildings and insurance with the intention of further examining this issue.

The principle issue with protected structures centres on the cost of reinstatement to the insurer. There is widespread belief that full reinstatement of protected structures, following loss or disaster, will be required by the regulatory authorities. While reinstatement is often a concern for owners, my Department’s guidance is that there is not a requirement for the planning authority to seek full reinstatement unless this is justified. My Department’s view is that every local authority should be able to provide information on reinstatement to individual owners and judgements should be made on a case by case basis.

It should be noted that there are several insurance providers in the market who offer insurance cover for historic properties on a case by case basis, having regard to the risks applicable to older structures in general. Such risks, which arise from age of services, structural stability, etc., relate to all traditionally built buildings - commonly those over 100 years old - and do not singularly target structures protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.

My Department will continue to pursue matters surrounding insurance for historic properties and keep the issues under review.