merrion street

Minister Hayes and Kevin Thompson, CEO of Insurance Ireland

OPW Minister Brian Hayes together with Mr. Kevin Thompson, CEO of Insurance Ireland today announced details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Office of Public Works and Insurance Ireland on the exchange of information on flood defence works.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is the outcome of ongoing discussions between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Insurance Ireland (II) on the provision of information on completed OPW flood defence schemes in line with Insurance Ireland requirements so that insurers can take this information fully into account when assessing risk in respect of private dwellings and small businesses.

Minister Hayes said :

This is an important day for those in areas where flood defences have been provided by OPW as my Office and Insurance Ireland are working together to ensure that the flood defence works undertaken in recent years are now being taken into account by the insurance industry.  There has been substantial investment of €370m by the State in all parts of the country on flood relief works since 1995. It is important that the benefits of that investment are felt by all members of those communities.  I am confident that this will lead to a greater availability of insurance to those who currently find it difficult to get.