Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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512. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures that are being put in place to assist thatched public houses in dealing with ever increasing insurance bills and the limited availability of insurance providers. [29654/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I am aware of the challenges facing owners of thatched buildings in respect of securing insurance. Both Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan, and A Living Tradition, the new vernacular architectural heritage strategy, contain actions to address the issue of insurance of protected structures, including thatched buildings.

Action 6 of A Living Tradition is to ‘enhance the protection and conservation of historic thatched roofs’ and is engaging with this matter and work is currently underway to establish the facts of the situation: which companies are prepared to provide insurance; the affordability of such premiums; and, the terms and conditions of such policies for owners. Through dialogue with the insurance sector, it will seek to understand what providers perceive as the issues in insuring such buildings. The study will also gather statistical evidence on the perceived risks associated with thatched buildings, as well examining models in other jurisdictions, so as to engage constructively with the sector in an informed way. The views of owners will also be sought, as well as those of the Central Bank, which is responsible for the prudential supervision of such undertakings authorised in Ireland, and other relevant bodies.

Officials in my Department are currently establishing a thatch steering group to oversee this study. The steering group being established will be called the Built Vernacular Heritage (Thatch) Steering Group. The remit of the steering group is to assist with implementation of the strategy. Its first priority is to work to resolve the urgent issue of affordability and availability of insurance for thatched buildings. It will also examine other relevant issues, including thatching standards, fire prevention guidance, and the availability of suitable thatching materials. The steering group will work to accelerate the recording and protection of thatched buildings, and establish a central database of such structures. It will also progress relevant parts of other actions of the strategy as they relate to thatch and thatching.

The range of stakeholders comprising the steering group includes a thatch owner (Edward Frampton), a thatcher/owner (Jimmy Lenehan), a representative of the local authority architectural conservation officers (Rose Ryall, Waterford City and County Council), a representative of the local authority heritage officers (Joe Gallagher, Donegal County Council), a representative of the Department’s thatching grants section (Patricia Rogers), a representative of the Heritage Council (Colm Murray), and a representative of the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland) (Caroline Maguire). The group will be chaired by Jimmy Lenehan.