The Government has sent a strong warning to the insurance industry not to renege on its responsibilities to the thousands of householders who have been devastated by the recent floods.
The warning came last night from the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works as he announced a review of national flooding policy as parts of Munster and Leinster suffered once again from heavy rain.
Mr Tom Parlon also announced that the Government has approved another €5 million for humanitarian flood relief on top of the €8.5 million already made available to flood victims earlier this month.
Mr Parlon said he was to meet the Irish Insurance Federation to discuss the current claims situation and would impress on them that they had to be able to take a risk.
"It isn't on for insurance companies to say no to claimants," he said. "They have been extolling their policy of paying out but that is the business they are in."
Mr Parlon said insurance companies could in fact gain from extreme weather problems, because more people would sign up for storm damage insurance after a bout bad of weather.
He said the review would assess the extent of the flooding problem across the State and would clarify the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies involved. Practical action as to how to deal with the scourge of flooding would also be recommended.
The review group has been asked to comment in general on the impact of flooding on different sections of society and will recommend criteria for priority expenditure.
Mr Parlon said the increased frequency of serious flooding in the last number of years was a matter of great national concern. "While the Office of Public Works is engaged in ongoing flood-relief measures through the country, I am initiating this review to develop a streamlined national flooding policy that will deal with the growth and complexity of the flooding problem."
Mr Parlon said the review would be carried out by a group representing the major stakeholders including the OPW, the departments of Finance and Environment and Local Government, local authorities and representatives of farming organisations.
Strategies to prevent any extensions of areas at risk of flooding are to identified by the review group, with particular reference to the effects of climate change.
In the meantime, Mr Parlon said the OPW would continue to engage in flood-relief schemes throughout the State.
Yesterday he had discussions with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, about the urgent need to establish a humanitarian aid scheme for victims of severe flooding in Cork.
He said arrangements would be made over the next few days to assess the extent of the damage. Arrangements were also being made to ensure that application forms would be available to the people affected and promised that announcements on the matter would appear in the national newspapers.