A new partnership between local authorities and their mutual insurance company, Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Insurance, will remove the cost of insurance for local authority-backed TidyTowns groups across the country.
There are over 1,000 active TidyTowns groups in Ireland and the cost of insurance for those groups represents a material and significant drain on their limited financial resources. This initiative will result in substantial savings for such groups across the country and it will enable them to focus their energy and resources on community activities.
The initiative delivers tangible benefits through the pooling of risk associated with TidyTowns activities under a master policy undertaken by local authorities, enabling TidyTown voluntary groups to focus on their core mission of improving the local amenity in their communities.
The cost savings associated with the scheme should assist groups by ensuring they have more resources available to support their activities.
‘INNOVATIVE SOLUTION’
Welcoming the initiative, Robert Troy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, said this will now enable groups to concentrate on furthering their good work.
“Volunteer and local groups like TidyTowns help keep towns clean and attractive, while offering ways for people to support their communities and address local needs,” he said.
“This partnership between Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Insurance and the 31 local authorities will mean TidyTowns groups will have insurance cover, at no cost to them. This will enable local authority-backed TidyTowns groups to continue their vital work bringing benefits to the community, and indeed the country, as a whole. IPB and the local government sector are to be commended for this efficient and highly innovative solution.
“The scheme also exemplifies the success of the Government’s insurance reform agenda. The implementation of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform has yielded substantial benefits for consumers. Notably, insurance capacity is now accessible in previously challenging sectors, including hospitality, leisure activities and community groups,” he sommented
The news will also mean that the administrative burden on groups to provide evidence of insurance before grants are awarded will be eliminated.
The national roll-out has now commenced and to date almost 700 eligible TidyTown groups have been catered for through the scheme.
