Residents of Mayo estate 'distressed' over floodplain dispute

Families living in Moat Estate, Balla, are struggling with high home insurance prices because insurance companies say the area is a floodplain.

However, Mayo County Council and the planning office disagree - and this needs a resolution immediately, according to independent candidate, Harry Barrett.

He elaborated: "Despite these disagreements, insurance companies keep charging high prices.

"Families are finding it really hard to deal with these expensive insurance bills.

"They talked to Mayo County Council about this problem two years ago, but nothing has changed since then.

"The area is not a floodplain, has never flooded and it seems insurance companies are using some unknown European floodplain map to justify charging young families these crazy prices.

"How this has been allowed to continue for so long I cannot understand.

"People in Moat Estate now feel frustrated and helpless. They keep their homes safe and follow all the rules, but still have to pay a lot for insurance.

"It's not fair on them. They want something to be done about this issue.

"This cannot be allowed to continue, and I will be contacting the Office of the Insurance Regulator and the Office of Consumer Protection to intervene in this matter," he added.