Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications made for declined insurance in each year since 2014 and in each month in 2018; the number of applications accepted for declined insurance in each year since 2014 and in each month to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11540/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, the Deputy should note that as Minister for Finance, I am not responsible for the operation of the Declined Cases Agreement and therefore I do not have direct access to the data that is being requested. 

However, my officials made contact with Insurance Ireland about the information request.  In response Insurance Ireland have provided me with statistics on the number of cases they have dealt with which are set out in the following table. I understand the figures for the first quarter of this year will be available in April 2018.

In relation to these cases Insurance Ireland has informed me that all applications made to them were accepted for processing under the Declined Cases Agreement. They have also stated that a quotation was secured for the applicants in question through the Agreement and that they therefore consider all applications to have been successful. 

It should be noted that the Cost of Insurance Working Group recommended the Declined Cases Agreement should be made more transparent under the Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance. On foot of this recommendation, Insurance Ireland submitted a report on the operation of the Agreement to my Department in July 2017. In the report, Insurance Ireland states that it “believes that the time may be correct for a review of elements” of the Agreement. My Department accepted this proposal and has since hosted two workshops with relevant stakeholders who are examining what elements of the Agreement need to be amended or refined. I understand further workshops will take place throughout 2018.