Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans, if any, to provide affordable house insurance for thatched cottage owners (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2299/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere with the provision or pricing of insurance products due to the EU Solvency II Directive. However, this Government remains committed to improving insurance costs and availability for householders, individuals and businesses across Ireland and I would draw your attention to the Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future which commits to publish a new Action Plan for Insurance Reform with a focus on encouraging further competition in the market across all types of insurance.

Specifically in relation to thatched buildings, it is important to note that thatch insurance is an extremely complex issue, as it is linked with how insurance companies profile and underwrite risk. It is a subject that has been discussed frequently with the major insurance companies and brokers in the State, who have indicated that their major concern regarding thatched properties is the risk of fire.

To address this, during the last Government, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (D/HLGH) issued fire safety guidelines to thatched property owners and created an inspection scheme to offer further guidance on risk mitigation. Data gathered by that department suggests that these actions are having an effect, with the number of reported fires in thatch properties falling from an average of fourteen fires a year from 2017-2022 to five in the period September 2023 to September 2024, indicating a greater understanding of fire risk and safety in thatched properties on the part of owners and occupiers of thatch properties. Officials from my Department are ensuring that this information is being disseminated to the insurance industry and they, along with Ministers, will seek to press the industry to see what solutions they can offer to this niche aspect of the Irish insurance market.

In conclusion, maintaining a sustainable and competitive insurance market, including for thatched properties, remains a key priority for the Government and I wish to assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that the new Action Plan for insurance Reform, when developed, will continue to deliver tangible benefits for insurance consumers across the country.