850. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if he will instruct the Office of Public Works to remove the classification of a flood zone on an area in County Clare which has not flooded in several decades (details supplied) in order that the classification will not negatively impact home insurance on properties within it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55187/26]

The EU ‘Floods’ Directive requires a six yearly cyclical approach to the assessment of flood risks, including a preliminary flood risk assessment to identify areas of potentially significant flood risk (APSFRs), the preparation of flood hazard and flood risk maps for the identified APSFRs and the preparation of flood risk management plans.

The Flood Risk Maps are available to the public to view on the floodinfo.ie portal and the relevant maps are subject to ongoing review through the flood map review programme, as set out under.  It is important to note that the flood risk maps are community scale maps. The maps were not designed to designate individual properties at risk. The maps show the probable extent of flooding based on current and future projections.

The Disclaimer and Conditions for Use of OPW flood maps on www.floodinfo.ie includes a provision that users of the website must not use the flood maps, or any other content of the website for commercial purposes. As such, the Disclaimer prevents insurance companies from using the flood maps generated by the OPW.

The insurance industry has its own flood modelling tools for assessing the level of risk that it is willing to underwrite in relation to individual properties. Insurance Ireland, the representative body of the insurance industry, has highlighted to the OPW that it does not use the OPW flood maps to inform its flood modelling. The decision on whether to offer insurance, the level of premiums charged and the policy terms applied are matters for individual insurers. Insurance companies make commercial decisions on the provision of insurance cover based on their assessment of the risks they would be accepting on a case-by-case basis.

Insurance Ireland operates an Insurance Information Service for those who have queries, complaints or difficulties in relation to obtaining insurance, which can be contacted at 01 676 1914 or feedback@insuranceireland.eu. Similarly, Brokers Ireland, the representative body for insurance brokers in Ireland, has access to a wide range of providers and products, and can offer advice for customers when sourcing cover. Brokers Ireland can be reached at 01 661 3067. Furthermore, where an individual considers that they have been treated unfairly, they have the option of making a complaint to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO). The FSPO can be contacted either by email at info@fspo.ie or by telephone at 01 567 7000.

The Department of Finance has the lead policy responsibility for insurance matters, including flood insurance.   The Department of Finance engages with the insurance industry on all aspects of insurance reform, including flood cover issues and efforts continue to be made to encourage a responsive approach to the provision of flood insurance from the insurance industry. In accordance with the EU framework for insurance (Solvency II Directive), the Government cannot direct the provision or pricing of insurance products.

Updates and revisions to the flood maps may occasionally be required due to a change in physical conditions, detection of errors or based on other specific evidence.  In these circumstances a Flood Map Review may be undertaken. A flood map review can be instigated by the submission of a Flood Map Review Request Form.  Full details of the Flood Map Review Programme and guidance notes for making a flood map review are available from: www.floodinfo.ie/map-review/.

A flood map review is a two-stage process with the first stage representing a screening exercise. Where there is sufficient evidence provided that a published flood map does not reflect the current conditions, the OPW will proceed to a detailed re-assessment of the area in question.

Where a flood map is updated, the revised draft flood map is published on www.floodinfo.ie for comment for a period of 30 days.  Following this period, any comments received are reviewed and, if appropriate, any resultant amendments are made with the final flood maps produced and published on the website.