Flood victims slam Government for insurance inaction

Flood victims have criticised the Government for inaction on insurance issues in the wake of the devastating December and January floods crisis.

Hundreds of people whose lives and homes have been destroyed by floods marched through Athlone town on Saturday as part of a major pre-election rally organised by the IFA, the Irish National Flood Forum (INFF), and the people of Athlone.

Flood forum spokesman, Jer Buckley, said they were angry at the Taoiseach for his failure to have a follow-up meeting with the insurance industry following his initial meeting on January 1, and there is anger too over the lack of cleaning of the River Shannon.

The INFF also criticised the memorandum of understanding agreement drawn up between the Government and the Irish insurance industry.

Mr Buckley said it has failed to deliver reinsurance to communities where the State has spent millions of euro on successful flood defence schemes.

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“The INFF has worked for the last six months on drafting a bill with Fianna Fáil finance spokesman Micheal McGrath,” said Mr Buckley.

“This bill is at first stage in the Dáil and, if passed, it would compel insurance companies to reinsure where flood schemes have been completed by the Office of Public Works.”

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Copies of the “flood bill” were distributed to all politicians at the rally and the INFF called for cross-party support to ensure the bill is passed by the new Dáil.

The INFF told the rally that the insurance industry is expected to turn over some €3.5bn this year and that it is totally unacceptable it is excluding flood cover to communities where the flood risk has been eliminated following the installation of proven flood defence schemes.

“There is no need for additional levies as none of the towns where flood works were carried out flooded last December,” said Mr Buckley.

“The flood risk in these towns has been resolved by the OPW.

“It is totally unacceptable that we have a government spending hundreds of millions of state money and yet have no agreement with the insurance industry for reinsurance.”