Finian McGrath
Question:124 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will actively support the flood victims in Dublin North Central; and if he will assist on the insurance issue. [32360/11]
View answerWednesday, 2 November 2011
Questions (124)
Written answers
A flood relief scheme, which will help alleviate the serious flood risk from the Wad River for the Donnycarney area of Dublin, has been developed by Dublin City Council. The Council is currently finalising agreements with local stakeholders in advance of the works, after which it will seek the approval to commence the scheme. The Office of Public Works (OPW) has already agreed in principle to provide funding for the scheme.
The Minister for Finance recently addressed the issue of flood insurance in response to a Parliamentary Question. In his reply the Minister indicated that there were no plans to introduce a Government-backed insurance scheme for such householders. As you are aware, the possible introduction of an insurance scheme to protect householders who cannot obtain flood insurance from regular insurance companies was examined in 2010. However the then Government concluded that such an approach was not financially viable. I recently gave an assurance to the house to look again at this decision and to see what, if any, further help may be provided.
I am continuing to review difficulties, that some householders are having in accessing flood insurance cover, with the Irish Insurance Federation. The focus of these discussions is intended to improve the scope and quality of the information available to the insurance industry to reduce market inertia in some locations where capital works investment has addressed flood risk and to improve the measurement of the difficulties experienced with regard to flood insurance cover.