Tidy Towns groups released from burden of insurance costs with new partnership

Irish Examiner

22-04-2025

Tidy Towns groups across the country will no longer have to pay insurance under a new partnership between local authorities and Irish Public Bodies Insurance.
The agreement will significantly cut the costs incurred by more than 1,000 active Tidy Towns groups and will enable them to focus their energy and resources on community activities.
The initiative, which has already seen 700 groups sign up, pools the risk associated with Tidy Towns activities under a master policy undertaken by local authorities enabling the voluntary groups to focus on their core mission of improving the local amenity in their communities.
Chair of IPB Insurance, John Hogan, said: 'As a mutual insurer, we believe in the strength of the collective and working together. This initiative demonstrates the benefits of collaboration to address insurance challenges that make a meaningful difference for our members and their communities.
"We are delighted to partner with our local authority members to deliver a community insurance scheme that protects those who do so much for their communities on a voluntary basis.'
Interest in the SuperValu TidyTowns competition has increased year on year with over 900 entries received for the competition in 2024. The competition has been running since 1958 and is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Welcoming the initiative, Robert Troy, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, said: 'Volunteer and local groups like Tidy Towns help keep towns clean and attractive, while offering ways for people to support their communities and address local needs.
'This partnership between Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Insurance and the 31 local authorities will mean Tidy Towns groups will have insurance cover, at no cost to them. This will enable local authority-backed Tidy Towns groups to continue their vital work bringing benefits to the community, and indeed the country, as a whole."
He said 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.'
Anna Marie Delaney, Chair of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) said the changes will add to the grant funding which local authorities had already been providing to support community groups.
The cost savings associated with the scheme should assist groups by ensuring they have more resources available to support their activities.
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