Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if travel advice or a travel warning was issued to Irish citizens for a part of Spain which has been devastated by severe flooding (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the requirement for such advice or warning in order for persons that had to cancel travel plans to affected areas to recoup refunds or for cancelled travel to be covered by insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40217/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department regularly updates its travel advice for over 200 countries. We endeavour to provide up-to-date information to help citizens make informed decisions when they are planning a trip overseas and to offer an objective assessment of the risks they could face.

Our Embassy in Madrid posted a message on Twitter on 13 September, advising that a number of roads in the Murcia and Valencia regions were closed due to heavy rain and storms. The message advised citizens to follow the advice of local authorities, who were urging people not to drive unless strictly necessary, and provided a link to information on further weather warnings. 

The travel advice was reviewed and, on 16 September, the Department's website was updated to note that parts of Spain had been affected by flooding and heavy rains, in particular Valencia, Alicante, Murcia and parts of the Balearic Islands, and that citizens in those areas should exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities. The advice advised citizens to look at Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, for any further information.