Over 1,000 Tidy Towns groups will no longer have to pay insurance
A typical premium for a Tidy Towns group in a medium-sized town is understood to be around €1,500, with larger towns paying anything upwards of €7,000 a year.
There are over 1,000 active Tidy Towns groups across the country made up of volunteers working to protect and enhance their home areas.
Insurance can be a significant drain on their limited financial resources, much of which is drawn down from local authority supports.
The cost savings associated with the scheme should assist groups
The new scheme sees a master policy undertaken by local authorities for all Tidy Towns committees.
IPB Insurance was created by Ireland's local authorities a century ago as a mutually-owned insurer. It underwrites major liability, property and motor risks for public sector bodies and agencies and for complementary markets in the semi-state and private sectors.
It is one of the country's biggest insurers.
Chair, John Hogan, said IPB Insurance was delighted to partner with local authorities to deliver a community insurance scheme that protects those who do so much for their communities on a voluntary basis.
'The initiative delivers tangible benefits through the pooling of risk associated with Tidy Towns activities under a master policy undertaken by local authorities enabling Tidy Town 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,' he said.
He said a national roll-out has now commenced and to date almost 700 eligible Tidy Town groups have been catered for through the scheme.
Anna Marie Delaney, chair of the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and chief executive of Offaly County Council, said the new master policy will eliminate an administrative burden on Tidy Towns volunteers.
Traditionally, local authorities had provided grants but committees have had to organise insurance.
'We are delighted to now be in a position to work with IPB Insurance to extend a master Tidy Towns insurance policy to cover groups carrying out local authority-supported Tidy Towns activities,' Ms Delaney said.
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