The largest home insurer in the Irish market has reported that the freezing temperatures experienced between Christmas and New Year's Eve have resulted in a spate of home insurance claims.

Royal & SunAlliance has confirmed that temperatures, which dipped to as low as minus 12 degrees in parts of the State, caused widespread freezing and burst pipe damage to homes. The midlands and east were worst affected.

A company spokesman said it was too early to measure the total impact of this latest bad weather event.

"The number of home insurance claims being recorded by Royal & SunAlliance and attributable to the 'big freeze' over the period is rising. Based on conservative estimates received to date, the cost to the Irish insurance industry resulting from this specific event may reach €30 million or more."

Water-related claims such as those likely to ensue from flooding last week in the Ringsend and East Wall areas of Dublin are at the more expensive end of home insurance claims.

This latest hit to the home insurance sector follows major storm, flood and freezing weather events experienced in four of the past five years. The company also noted that a number of claims arose from houses being unoccupied at the time of the freezing weather.

Many owners failed to leave their heating system on at a low temperature or, if away for an extended period, did not turn off the mains water connection.

Failure to provide adequate lagging protection to attic areas and piping is also a continuing problem, the spokesman said.

"With serious weather events set to become more commonplace, a much greater emphasis will be placed on customers taking reasonable precautions during the winter months to protect their homes against the impact of freezing weather conditions," he added.