Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
282. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the average private motor insurance premium charged to learner drivers in each of the past five years, by age cohort; whether his Department or the Central Bank of Ireland monitors or analyses the impact of age-neutral learner driver pricing models on affordability and proportionality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11162/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra283. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the oversight mechanisms in place within the Central Bank of Ireland to assess whether motor insurance pricing models, particularly those applied to learner drivers, comply with consumer protection principles on fairness, proportionality, and transparency; whether any thematic reviews have been undertaken in this area since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11163/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra284. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of motor insurers currently authorised to write private motor insurance in the State; the number of those insurers that actively provide quotations to learner drivers; whether the Central Bank assesses effective market participation where large cohorts of consumers face limited or prohibitively expensive access to cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11164/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra285. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether learner drivers are recognised by his Department or the Central Bank of Ireland as a distinct consumer cohort for the purposes of insurance affordability and access; whether any assessment has been carried out on the societal and economic impact of high learner-driver premiums on families, older first-time drivers, or returning emigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11165/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra286. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether the Central Bank of Ireland requires motor insurers to provide consumers with a clear explanation of the principal factors driving quoted premiums, particularly where exceptionally high premiums are issued to learner drivers; whether any regulatory guidance has been issued in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11166/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance whether he has considered introducing additional regulatory safeguards or guidance to ensure learner driver motor insurance premiums are evidence-based, proportionate, and transparent; whether any policy review is planned in conjunction with the Central Bank of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11167/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 282, 283, 284, 285, 286 and 287 together.
The Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) collects and publishes aggregate data on private motor insurance premiums through the National Claims Information Database but does not gather information on individual risk factors such as age or licence type.
It is important to note that the decision to provide any specific form of insurance cover, and the price at which it is offered, is a commercial matter for insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. Neither I, as Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, nor the Central Bank of Ireland, have the power to compel insurers to provide particular types of insurance or to provide it at a particular price. This is reinforced by the European framework for insurance (Solvency II Directive).
While insurers individually determine how risk factors influence pricing and how risk factors are applied to policies, the Central Bank of Ireland continuously supervises firms’ pricing, underwriting, reserving, capital adequacy, model risk management, and operational resilience through reporting and inspections.
Under the Consumer Protection Code 2012, insurers must act honestly, fairly, professionally, and disclose all relevant information clearly. The revised Consumer Protection Code 2025 (effective 24 March 2026) strengthens these requirements, obliging firms to act with integrity, skill, care, and always in the best interests of customers.
There are a large number of motor insurers and intermediaries offering motor insurance in the State and officials in my Department engage frequently with Insurance Ireland – the trade body association for the insurance industry – on a range of insurance related issues. It has advised that the calculation of a premium is based on several rating factors. These factors can include where the vehicle is stored, driver age, and driving experience.
The Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform 2025-2029 sets out a range of targeted measures to improve affordability, availability, and transparency for consumers. Work is underway on the development of a Transparency Code for the insurance industry which is aimed at improving transparency, fairness, and consumer understanding. The Code’s primary objective is to improve fairness, clarity, and accountability across the motor insurance market. It establishes clear standards for how insurers and intermediaries present information to customers, ensuring the use of plain English, standardised definitions, and accessible explanations of how premiums are calculated. Once operational, the Code will ensure that the insurance market operates with integrity, build trust, and ensure that learner drivers and indeed all drivers are empowered to make informed decisions.
The Government will continue to oversee the implementation of insurance reforms and will work to secure a sustainable, competitive, fair and transparent market in Ireland that enhances transparency, affordability and availability of insurance for all consumers.
