Fianna Fáil has announced it is to bring forward a Flooding Bill which will protect homes and businesses being discriminated against by insurance firms.

Spokesperson on the OPW and Flood Relief, Eugene Murphy, said the Flood Insurance Bill 2016 requires the insurance industry not to discriminate against people who live in areas which the Office of Public Works flood hazard maps designate as having a one in 100 year risk or better.

He said: "Our Bill will address this issue by ensuring that insurance companies can no longer discriminate against home and business owners that have the standard one in 100 year flood risk, as certified by the OPW. The OPW has already completed 37 major flood defence schemes, however some insurance customers, are still being refused cover. This situation is completely unacceptable.

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"Under our legislation, a property owner would be entitled to complain to the Financial Services Ombudsman if they were unreasonably refused insurance or were offered an unreasonable premium. The Central Bank would also be given powers to direct an insurer to change its practices or take steps to ensure compliance."

Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady said: "The Government need to invest in flood prevention measures, and that investment must go hand in hand with Fianna Fáil's call for insurance cover for home and business owners.

"Investment in flood defences has been bottom of the list for far too long, it has never been a priority for Government. Sinn Féin look forward to scrutinising this Bill further; however, we would caution that this Bill is not an ultimate solution and it is not the only issue which must be tackled when it comes to flooding."

(CD/LM)