Royal & Sun Alliance, the largest provider of home insurance in the Irish market, said total net premiums written in the Republic rose to £50 million sterling (#81 million) in the three months to the end of March from £46 million a year earlier.

Personal business accounted for £29 million of the total, up from £26 million in the first quarter of 2000, while commercial business rose to £21 million from £20 million a year earlier.