Many house owners who were victims of last December’s floods are unable to get insurance to cover flood damage in the future despite assurances that help would be forthcoming.
This is the view of Fine Gael Galway East TD Paul Connaughton who has been contacted by a number of flood victims who are “nervously wondering” what will happen if another flood occurs.
“One householder in the Ballinasloe area was denied insurance cover on her flooded home and brought her case to the Financial Services Ombudsman’s Bureau in Dublin,” he said. “The Ombudsman said no complaint can be upheld against a financial service provider for exercising commercial discretion in refusing a customer renewal of their insurance.”
Dep Connaughton contacted the Insurance Information Service at Molesworth Street but the response “was negative also” and the offices “stressed it was a decision that rested entirely with the insurance company”.
The FG TD said the situation leaves home owners in flood prone areas with “a terrible dilemma”. He said the Government has ruled out any form of relocation and has “not yet provided any sort of realistic drainage proposals or containment procedures”.
“I believe the Government must review this serious situation and provide some sort of financial insurance cover for these victims,” he said, “to allay their understandable fears every time they see heavy rain falling.”
