Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2013
374. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made between the Office of Public Works and the Irish Insurance Federation in respect of insurance companies' inappropriate use of preliminary flood risk assessment maps to assess and decide on flood risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/13]
View answerOn foot of my constructive engagement with the insurance industry last year, a working group has been established between the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF) and representatives of the main insurance companies operating in the Irish market to progress work on agreeing a viable basis for the exchange of information on flood defence schemes completed by the OPW. This will allow the insurance industry to be fully informed as to the extent of OPW investment in flood protection measures and to take that investment fully into account in assessing flood risk for insurance purposes.
The OPW raised the matter of the use of the preliminary flood risk assessment maps with the Irish Insurance Federation and that body has clarified that the insurance industry uses its own flood risk mapping rather than the PFRA maps to assess risk for flood cover.
