Householders still finding it difficult to obtain insurance flood risk cover

By Mary Dennehy

DESPITE more than €330,000 being spent on flood-relief works in Killinarden in 2012, home owners continue to be “discriminated against” by insurance companies – which refuse to provide cover to some homeowners due to flood risk.

In October 2011, the country was hit with flash floods, and Killinarden, especially Knockmore, was no exception, with a number of homes gutted when 80mm of contaminated water rushed through front and back doors – forcing some families to live on the second floor of their homes until works were carried out.

This was not the first time that flooding was an issue in and around the Killinarden area, with many believing the source of the problem being the local stream and its tributaries.

However, after a meeting between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and South Dublin County Council in 2012, €333,000 was provided for flood prevention works in the area.

The council told The Echo that works included a drainage pitch in the green space beside Knockmore Park being dug out, a ‘French drain’ which redirects surface and groundwater away from an area, being installed and the wall and railings at Hazel Grove restored.

New screens on the streams in the Jobstown area were also designed and installed, with all works, according to the council, “reducing” the risk of future flooding in the Knockmore area.

However, despite these extensive works, a number of homeowners in the Killinarden area are still being refused cover by insurance companies.

Tallaght South councillor Brian Leech (Anti-Austerity Alliance), who raised the issue in council chambers, has been contacted by a number of residents who have either been denied insurance, offered insurance which excludes flood cover, or offered full insurance at an extremely high price.

He told The Echo: “I rang one of the major companies and gave an address in Killinarden and was told that due to a local flooding risk that the company does not cover homes in this area.

“This is absolutely scandalous and is pure discrimination against people living in Killinarden.

“More than €300,000 was spent on flood relief works by the OPW in the area and yet Killinarden is still being classed as a flood risk by insurance companies – even though Killinarden is not listed as a flood risk area by the OPW’s CFRAM (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management).

“The council is also developing an infill housing estate in the area, which did initially raise concerns over flooding. However, assurances were given and the development was passed. Will these new homes get cover?”

The Echo understands that a number of residents are still concerned over the infill housing development and the flood risk in their area, especially since insurance companies are not recognising the work carried out by the OPW in 2012.

Cllr Leech said that he is now asking the council to correspond with Insurance Ireland to get a definitive answer as to why an area of local flooding that has been mitigated by the OPW cannot get flood risk insurance on their homes when the area is not one of the 300 high flood-risk areas set out by CFRAM.

When contacted by The Echo, a spokesman for Insurance Ireland said: “The OPW CFRAM’s maps are preliminary in nature and are for consultation purposes only as the study will run to the end of 2016.

“Insurers would not make underwriting decisions based on preliminary maps and instead use their own historical claims experience and flood-mapping technology to reach an underwriting decision on cover.

“Insurance Ireland has not been notified of fixed flood defences built to a 1:100 year standard in the Killinarden area as is the case with completed flood defences under the Insurance Ireland- OPW memorandum of understanding.”

The council told The Echo that it has in the past issued letters to residents, when requested, that confirm the flood relief works and the reduction of future flooding.