Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Finance if a universal system/process is used by insurance providers to check whether a property is located on a flood plain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35456/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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258. To ask the Minister for Finance the options available to the property owner to query and validate an assessment (details supplied) given the impact it may have on future quotes and availability of cover with other providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35457/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.

As Minister for Finance, I have policy responsibility for the development of the legal framework governing financial services regulation, including for the insurance sector.

Insurers use their own mapping and modelling tools for assessing the level of risk that they are willing to underwrite in relation to individual properties. The provision of home insurance is a commercial matter for insurance companies, based on an actuarial assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Government cannot interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance, or direct as to what cover is provided, as is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance (Solvency II Directive).

Insurance Ireland, the industry representative for the insurance industry in Ireland, has informed the Department that its members use a variety of different flood data models (both internally developed models and flood models procured from third party vendors), when assessing flood risk. Insurers will generally utilise (i) flood risk maps licensed from a third-party consultancy; (ii) bespoke flood maps based on their individual historical claim’s experience/risk surveys undertaken of locations, and (iii) other information such as the flood defence benefit area data provided to Insurance Ireland by the OPW under the terms of the MOU, if applicable.

Flood maps are used by insurers as a tool to help them decide the extent to which they will provide flood cover for a property risk. These usually take account of: (i) river and coastal (or tidal) flooding; (ii) the likelihood (or probability) of a flood loss; (iii) the potential severity of that loss; and (iv) the presence of any fixed flood defences. A matrix is used to score properties on the likelihood or occurrence of river, coastal and surface water flood events based on a review of these categories.

As noted above, an insurer will also consider flood protection measures implemented by the Office of Public Works (OPW) or local authorities when making its underwriting decisions. As the relevant authority on flood risk management in the State, the OPW has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Insurance Ireland. Under this arrangement, the OPW provide information on all completed flood defence schemes to Insurance Ireland. In turn, insurers take account of this information when assessing exposure to flood risk within these areas. Officials from the Departments of Finance; Housing and Local Government, along with other stakeholders engage constructively with this process on how the levels of insurance cover might be improved in areas where flood defence works have been completed.

The Government remains committed to protecting Ireland’s present and future generations by investing in climate adaptation measures to manage the impacts of extreme weather, with policy in relation to increasing flood insurance coverage focused on the development of a sustainable, planned and risk-based approach to managing flooding problems. Accordingly, €1.3 billion has been committed to the delivery of flood relief schemes over the lifetime of the National Development Plan (NDP) to 2030. This will protect approximately 23,000 properties across various communities from river and coastal flood risk.

If someone is having difficulty obtaining flood insurance (for example, where an insurer has assessed a property as being located on a flood plain, high risk, and thus uninsurable), it may be advisable to check for alternative insurance quotes. In this regard, Brokers Ireland, the representative body for insurance brokers in Ireland, can be contacted at insurancequeries@brokersireland.ie for advice in sourcing cover and access to a wide range of providers and products. Insurance Ireland also operate an Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance and can be contacted at feedback@insuranceireland.eu.

Furthermore, where somebody feels a particular insurance provider has treated them unfairly, they have the option of making a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO). The FSPO acts as an independent arbiter of disputes that consumers may have with their insurance company or other financial service provider. The FSPO can be contacted either by email at info@fspo.ie or by telephone at 01-567-7000. Investigations by the FSPO are free of charge to the complainant.

The Department of Finance will continue to monitor and assess flood insurance matters, including through its participation in the OPW and Insurance Ireland Working Group. Minister of State Troy has also met with the CEOs of the major insurers where he strongly emphasised the need to take a reasonable approach to the provision of cover where properties are proven to be in low-risk areas, including where there has been investment in flood defences. These matters remain a priority for this Government and efforts continue to be made to encourage a responsive approach from the insurance industry.