Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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72. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the steps his Department is taking to assist the homeowners approved for the concrete defective block scheme that are unable to secure home insurance due to the issue of pyrite; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37027/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I have engaged on a number of occasions with Insurance Ireland with regards to the insurance aspects of underwriting houses that have been subject to certified remediation works under the defective concrete blocks grant schemes. They have assured me such homes will be treated in the same manner as any other home.

The Department of Finance has overall responsibility for policy matters in relation to insurance. However neither the Minister for Finance nor the Central Bank of Ireland, can direct the pricing or provision of insurance products. The provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for insurance companies and is based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept and adequate provisioning to meet those risks. These are considered by insurance companies on a case by case basis.

Insurance Ireland, the representative body for insurance providers in this country, operates an Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance. Similarly, Brokers Ireland, the representative body for insurance brokers in Ireland, has access to a wide range of providers and products, and can offer advice for customers when sourcing cover. Furthermore, where an individual considers that they have been treated unfairly, they have the option of making a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO).