Irish insurers have paid out €1.3bn to policyholders as a direct result of storms and flooding over the past 10 years, the industry’s representative body has said.

Motorists and homeowners have been assured that their insurance is valid during severe weather events, despite claims to the contrary on social media.

Insurance customers who are being refused insurance because they live close to a river — even though they live on a steep incline — should be using insurance brokers to fight their cause.