Ireland’s insurance reform agenda has reached a new milestone, with gov.ie confirming the creation of a Flood Insurance Protection Gap Working Group. The move comes as the Government marks one year since launching its Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025–2029, with ministers highlighting progress on transparency, affordability and access to cover for households and businesses.
Announced by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris TD and Minister of State Robert Troy TD, the new group will focus on one of the most persistent challenges in the market: flood insurance availability in high-risk areas. The initiative is expected to bring together state bodies, insurers and wider stakeholders to find practical, time-bound solutions.
Flood Insurance working group launched through gov.ie
According to gov.ie, the new working group will be chaired independently by former Department of Health Secretary General Jim Breslin. Its remit is to examine how the flood insurance protection gap can be reduced, while also improving resilience and access to insurance in communities exposed to flood risk.
This matters for homeowners, small businesses and local communities that have struggled to obtain affordable cover despite broader insurance reforms. The latest step signals that the Department of the Taoiseach, Finance and related public authorities are continuing to target gaps that remain in the market.
- Improve access to flood insurance for homes and businesses
- Coordinate input from Government Departments, agencies and insurers
- Identify practical measures within a defined timeframe
- Support resilience against future flood risk
One year of insurance reform: what has changed?
The Government’s update on gov.ie outlines several reforms delivered since the action plan was introduced in July 2025. These measures are designed to improve competition, strengthen consumer protections and make the insurance system more transparent.
Key reforms highlighted by ministers
- Introduction of the Motor Insurance Transparency Code
- Enactment of “Right to be Forgotten” legislation for eligible cancer survivors seeking mortgage protection insurance
- Further progress on personal injuries reform through legislative and procedural updates
- Publication of a review on compensation levels for minor soft tissue injuries
- Improvements in claims handling through the Injuries Resolution Board
- Stronger insolvency arrangements for insurers and reinsurers
Ministers also pointed to nine straight months of falling motor insurance premiums, an indicator that reforms are beginning to influence pricing. However, gov.ie makes clear that more work is needed on legal costs, injury award levels and insurance availability in hard-to-cover areas.
Why flood insurance remains a major issue in Ireland
Flood insurance is a particularly important issue because it sits at the intersection of Finance, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Climate Action and community resilience. While some property owners have seen improvements in access to cover over time, those living in flood-prone areas often continue to face higher premiums, restricted terms or outright refusals.
The new group may also attract interest from agencies and bodies across the wider state ecosystem, including the Central Bank, Office of Public Works (OPW), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CSO and local authorities, given the links between insurance data, flood mapping and infrastructure planning.
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What happens next?
The Flood Insurance Protection Gap Working Group is expected to carry out a focused programme of work and report on practical options that can improve outcomes for consumers and businesses. For the Government, this is part of a wider effort to ensure insurance reform leads to real-world benefits rather than policy promises alone.
As gov.ie has set out, the broader action plan includes 26 actions intended to improve affordability, competition, transparency and access across the insurance sector. The new flood insurance initiative suggests that the next phase of reform will concentrate not just on cost, but on ensuring cover is actually available where it is needed most.
In short, the latest gov.ie announcement shows the Government is keeping insurance reform high on the agenda, with flood insurance now receiving targeted attention. If the working group can produce workable solutions, it could deliver meaningful relief for communities that have long found themselves on the wrong side of the insurance market.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
