Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Bishop in ‘pay up’ plea to flood insurers

The Bishop of Cork and Ross has told insurance companies they "have a moral obligation" to pay out claims made by flood victims in the city and county and must do so "quickly so that people could get back to normal".

Bishop John Buckley said it appeared many flood victims "have not been given the go-ahead to carry out the necessary repairs yet and this is an added injury to those whose homes and property were destroyed".

Bishop Buckley also called on the state authorities to intervene.

He said he wanted to express his continuing support for those who were affected. He said that over the past few weeks, he had heard and seen some of the devastation.

"It was heartbreaking to see homes destroyed and, with it, the confidence and sense of security of those who saved, built and lived in them.

"It was also terrible to see business people who were trying to operate in very difficult circumstances, having to face yet another battle to save their business and family income."

Meanwhile, Clonakilty Town Council is preparing a questionnaire to ask people if they are experiencing problems with insurance companies, or if they are uninsured.

It will distributed in the coming days.

Clonakilty mayor Cllr Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin said the questionnaires, which would be treated confidentially, would enable the town council quantify the exact losses incurred in the June 28 flood.

"Once we have collated the information we will use it to draw down Government funding and seek money for flood relief works," said Mr Ó Súilleabháin.

Damien Cassidy, the chairman of the National Conservation Group, said the Government must now address flood prevention works in the city and county.

"There are swathes of Cork uninsurable and there is plenty of machinery and workers lying idle," he said.

"It’s about time the OPW got the job done."