Tidy Town Groups Offered Free Insurance Through Partnership between IPB and Local Authorities

Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’ Shea has welcomed the announcement by his colleague Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Neale Richmond, regarding the recently launched Community Insurance initiative which allows Local Authorities to obtain insurance for Tidy Towns through a partnership between Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Insurance and Local Authorities.

Deputy O’Shea said “This is great news for Tidy Town Committees right across the country and indeed for all Tidy Towns Groups across Cork North West. Tidy Towns are volunteer groups who provide a very valuable service in their own village/town keeping it clean, tidy and making it very attractive for the residents to live in and for visitors to the area. They are a crucial group of individuals who volunteer their time back to their community. Alleviating the cost of public liability insurance for groups like the Tidy Towns committees is very welcome”.

This innovative partnership between Irish Public Bodies and Local Authorities will ensure that Tidy Towns have insurance to continue this vital work. It allows local authorities to offer insurance coverage to Tidy Town groups at no cost, thereby ensuring that this vital work can continue, bringing benefits to the community, and indeed the country, as a whole.

Welcoming the initiative, Minister Richmond said “Volunteer and local groups such as Tidy Towns are central to communities right across the country, not only through their work in keeping our towns clean, presentable and attractive for residents and visitors alike, but crucially in providing a pathway for people to give back to their community, providing support and meeting the needs of the area.

Minister Richmond added “I want to thank Irish Public Bodies for providing this partnership and for their support for Tidy Towns groups across the country. The scheme is also an illustration of the effectiveness of the government’s insurance reform agenda. The implementation of the Action Plan for Insurance Reform has brought significant benefits to consumers, with insurance capacity now available in previously problematic areas, such as hospitality, leisure activities and community groups.”