Insurance cost fears as homes never hit by floods to be included in new risk plan

SOME houses never before affected by flooding may end up in a “flood plain” with implications for insurance costs when a new risk management plan is announced later this year.

However, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran insisted the measures are in the interest of the country and said he is prepared for any “political fallout” when the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) plan is announced.

CFRAM is the largest flood risk management programme ever undertaken by the State and will act as a blueprint for flood schemes nationwide.

Mr Moran (inset below), the Minister at the OPW with Responsibility for Flood Relief, said there would be “positive news for towns around the country” when the plan was made public later this year.

But he also acknowledged that “there is some bad news coming for some counties” which “may have a political fallout”.

For some areas that may mean that large flood protection schemes, which are currently expected to happen, might not go ahead.

Mr Moran also warned “there is an element of CFRAM of people who have never been flooded and they are going to be now in a ‘flood plain’ and there is going to be insurance implications”.

Mr Moran said he was anxious that insurance companies work with homeowners where relief works have been carried out nearby.

“I have one or two people on to me that are trying to sell their house and they can’t,” he said. “I am saying to insurance companies, for God’s sake, we built these and they won’t get flooded. They (homeowners) should get protection.”

Speaking of other flood-related measures, Mr Moran said 69 homeowners had now registered their interest in the Government’s relocation scheme.

He also mentioned a pilot home protection scheme in Co Mayo and said, “we are looking at extending that to other parts of the country”.

Mr Moran said consideration was being given to waiving the local need in planning and offering other incentives in order to get people to build nearby, but away from flood plains. Very strict criteria would apply in order to qualify for such schemes.

In his native Athlone, he said a major scheme had now passed a crucial planning obstacle and was proceeding well.

“We know how to protect the town,” he added.

Nationwide, applications have been received for 750 minor work schemes. “We have an awful lot of money gone to local authorities for work,” he added. CFRAM is described as being central to the medium to long-term strategy for the reduction of flood risk in Ireland. It has been ongoing since 2011.