Rising insurance costs are having a very negative effect on West Cork festivals and community events, according to Cllr Danny Collins (Ind).
RISING insurance costs are having a very negative effect on West Cork festivals and community events, according to Cllr Danny Collins (Ind).
When he tried to book a bouncy castle for the Bantry Barbecue Festival for the bank holiday weekend, he was told the festival would have to cover the cost of insurance.
Cllr Collins said he went to four or five businesses before eventually getting a company in Cork that would agree to provide the castle.
He said the situation is the same nationwide after a UK-based insurance underwriter withdrew from the Irish market over concerns about the country’s compo claim culture.
He made the comments during a Cork County Council discussion on a motion tabled by Cllr Noel Collins (Ind).
Cllr Collins had called on the government to address the country’s ‘horrendous and unacceptable’ insurance costs, saying: ‘It is not just the young that are suffering but the old and immigrants too.’
The Bantry councillor said there are already signs that the cost of insurance is starting to hurt the restaurant trade, those who provide leisure activities, and even nightclub owners who no longer believe it is worthwhile opening their doors.
Cllr Collins said the cost of some insurance policies have increased by as much as 70% and that Irish people are paying ‘far more than our European counterparts.’
Cllr Paul Hayes (SF) said some young people are being quoted €3,000 to €4,000 to provide car insurance cover for one year – a figure that is often more than the value of the car.
