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Insurance refused

This article is from page 12 of the 2011-03-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG

REFUSALS by insurance companies to offer flood cover to homeowners are a form of “further discrimination on hard-pressed communities”, a meeting has heard.

Members of Clare County Council yesterday backed a motion from Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) that stated “That this council request all insurance companies and their umbrella organisation not to apply address specific refusals for flood cover on house insurances.”

Cllr Meaney told the meeting that he had heard of instances where homeowners in parts of Ennis are being refused cover on the basis that a small minority of houses in the area are at risk from flooding. He said this policy was creating huge difficulties for families trying to obtain insurance and that insurers are applying a “very broad definition of where flooding occurs”.

Mayor of Ennis and independent councillor Tommy Brennan, who is one of three elected representatives in the chamber whose homes were damaged by flooding, said that he cannot get insurance.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) described Cllr Meaney’s motion as “timely” and said insurance companies should offer reduced premiums where previously they charged exorbitant prices.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said that in November 2009 during a period of heavy flooding, insurance assessors were “prepared to take the vulture approach when people were at their lowest” but wouldn’t provide cover to homes “in places that were bone dry”.

Cllr Crowe said he supported the motion but called on Cllr Meaney to mark the letter for the attention of the regulator.

Cllr Tony Mulqueen (FG) told the meeting that since flood water damaged his home at Cappahard, he has been unable to get “any insurance at all”. “No insurance company will give me insurance,” he added.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said the motion should be brought to the attention of the regulator. He said a lot of homes around Clare were finding it very difficult to obtain flood insurance.

He added, “This is a further discrimination on hard pressed communities.”

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