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Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019

Tuesday, 22 October 2019

Ceisteanna (172)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

172. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Clane, County Kildare, is classed on OPW maps as a flood risk; the position regarding OPW flood risk maps; if they are made available to companies that sell house insurance products; if they have permission to use OPW maps in the context of assessing risk associated with insurance products; his plans to provide insurers with maps compiled by the OPW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43395/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The OPW Flood Maps were developed by  the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme which involved the largest study of flood risk ever undertaken by the State.  This study examined 300 communities identified as potentially being at significant risk of flooding from rivers and sea.  The Flood Maps show the likelihood or probability of flooding for areas within each of these 300 communities and are ‘predictive’, showing areas predicted to be inundated during a theoretical or ‘design’ flood event with an estimated probability of occurrence.

While these maps are community based and cannot be used to designate individual properties that could be at risk from flooding, it is important to note that the OPW does not apply a risk rating or map each town as a whole in all cases.  The maps are available to view along with information on their production and guidance on their use on www.floodinfo.ie.  The Disclaimer and Conditions for Use of OPW Flood Maps on the website includes a provision that users must not use the Flood Maps, or any other content of the website, for commercial purposes.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has a role to assist insurance companies to take into account the protection provided by completed OPW flood defence schemes. In this regard, the OPW agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with Insurance Ireland, the representative body of the insurance industry. This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on these completed schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. Insurance Ireland members have committed to take into account all information provided by OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these protected areas.

The insurance industry has its own flood modelling tools for assessing the level of risk that it is willing to underwrite in relation to individual properties. It has highlighted to the OPW that it does not use the OPW Flood Maps to inform its flood modelling. The decision on whether to offer insurance, level of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they would be accepting on a case-by-case basis.

Should you have any insurance related complaints or queries, you may wish to contact Insurance Ireland's Insurance Information Service (01 676 1914 or feedback@insuranceireland.eu).  In addition, the Financial Services Ombudsman (1890 88 20 90) deals independently with unresolved complaints from consumers about their individual dealings with all financial service providers.

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