The Government needs to address issues with flood insurance to ensure that homes and businesses in areas where flood defences have been built by the OPW are fully covered, according to Fianna Fáil spokesperson on the Office of Public Works (OPW) and flood relief, Eugene Murphy.

He highlighted the issue following an announcement by the government of a number flood-risk management plans.

Murphy explained: “We have been waiting over seven years for the publication of these flood-risk management plans, and in that time hundreds of homes and businesses have been devastated by a series of weather events. Minister Moran is committing €1bn to this 10-year plan, which is welcomed, however I have serious concerns about the delivery of these projects given the huge underspend on previous flood defence schemes.

“The government outlined a spend of €45m a year for flood defences between 2011-2017. However, it's running a €53m underspend across these projects – once again highlighting the huge disparity between the spin and the reality."

No comfort

“One of the biggest issues facing home and business owners in flood-risk areas is the fact that insurance companies are refusing to provide cover, even when flood defences have been built. Unless this issue is addressed, there will be no comfort for those who have already been affected or those at risk of flooding.

“Fianna Fáil published the flood insurance bill 2016, which extends insurance cover to homes and businesses in areas where flood defences have been built by the OPW. This bill introduces a new provision which prevents insurance companies from discriminating against home and business owners in areas with the standard one in 100-year flood risk, as certified by the OPW.

"If the government is serious about protecting home and business owners, it should support this bill and ensure that it is enacted without delay.”

IFA

Farmland impacted by flooding has to be part of the plans according to IFA flood project team chairman Padraic Joyce. He said provide more must be done to provide flood risk management plans for farmers and householders in rural areas.

He also welcomed the increase in the minor works scheme from €3m to €5m annually.

He also called for a farmyard relocation scheme to be put in place which would facilitate farmers who want to move their farmyard to land which will not flood

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