O’Keeffe: FF bill will resolve flood insurance woes

A NEW piece of legislation set to come before the Dáil will pave the way for homes and businesses in Fermoy and Mallow to finally get affordable insurance.

That’s according to Fianna Fail’s Cork East TD Kevin O’Keeffe, who said that if passed, the party’s Flood Insurance Bill would address the issue of cover for people living in towns that have flood defence works in place.

Last week Deputy O’Keeffe raised the issue In the Dáil with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, pointing out that many homes and businesses in Fermoy and Mallow were still unable to get cover – despite millions of Euros having been spent on flood defence schemes in both towns.

“Our bill will directly address the unwillingness of many insurance providers to offer cover in areas where substantial flood defence works have installed and successfully put to the test over the past 12-months,” said Deputy O’Keeffe.

“If passed by the Oireachtas, our bill will ensure that providers will not be allowed to deny insurance cover in areas that have undergone flood defence works and meet the standard 1 in 100 year flood risk rating,” he added.

Deputy O’Keeffe said the bill would also provide a mechanism for those who feel they have been unreasonably denied insurance to appeal that decision directly to the Financial Services Ombudsman.

“People living in areas with a low risk of flooding or where defence works have been put in place by the Office of Public Works should not have to worry about whether they can get insurance,” he said.

“Should it be passed, this piece of legislation will alleviate that worry and in the event that people feel the terms and conditions of cover offered are excessive or unreasonable, give them a channel through which they can appeal it.