‘Insurance denied to areas with flood defences’

The Government announcement of 50 new flood relief schemes at a cost of €257m has been welcomed in many quarters, but concerns are being raised that insurance companies are still refusing cover in areas in which flood defences have already been constructed.

The minister of state with responsibility for flood relief, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, made the announcement yesterday, adding that it is the first tranche of a 10-year programme which will see €1bn invested in flood defences.

Ger Buckley, a member of the Irish National Flood Forum, which represents flood victims, said there is little point in the Government spending massive amounts of money on flood defences if insurance companies will not provide cover to victims of previous floods when they were completed.