Deputy Donnelly holds meeting on rising cost of insurance
DEPUTY Stephen Donnelly organised a public meeting last Thursday to share practical advice on how businesses in the leisure, outdoor and adventure sector can source affordable insurance.
The well-attended meeting was held in the Parkview Hotel in Newtownmountkennedy and was also addressed by speakers from Alliance for Insurance Reform, Ireland’s Association for Adventure Tourism, Wicklow-based insurance brokers, child play specialists and Wicklow companies working hard to find alternative insurers
Leisure and adventure tourism providers have faced increasing difficulties when it comes to securing insurance in recent years. Soaring premiums have been accompanied by insurers exiting the market. Compensation culture is also having an impact.
‘Several Wicklow businesses have already shut down, with many more under threat,’ said Deputy Donnelly.
‘The meeting was organised to identify solutions to spiralling insurance costs. Many of Wicklow’s businesses operating in the leisure, outdoor or adventure sector are facing huge hikes in their insurance premiums. For some, these increases are so high that they threaten the viability of those businesses.
‘There are several reasons for this, including the withdrawal from the Irish market of insurers specialised in the sector. The meeting aimed to discuss the situation, and to try to identify tangible steps businesses can take to find, or lower, their premiums,’ he said.