€17,000 Paid Out For Pothole Damage In Kildare - But Some Claims Now Deemed ‘Act Of God’

Friday, 5 December 2025 12:37

By Martin Osborne - Head Of News

IPB Insurance, which manages complaints on behalf of Kildare County Council, is the insurance company some people appear to be having issues with.

It's been claimed that some road users who submit claims for pothole damage to cars are now being told that such incidents are an "act of God", resulting in compensation not being paid out.

IPB Insurance, which manages complaints on behalf of Kildare County Council, is the insurance company some people appear to be having issues with.

The insurance company came under fire recently in Galway, after some people who submitted claims were told they are an "act of God".

Fine Gael Councillor Andrew Reddington said God does not cause potholes.

He said he is a regular mass goer but he can't "imagine it is God out there digging holes in our roads".

Just this week, Kildare County Council moved quickly to patch two problem potholes after a flurry of complaints from locals, according to councillors in the Kildare–Newbridge Municipal District.

One large pothole - pictured above - had been troubling drivers near Rathbride Close in Kildare town, while another was causing issues close to the drawbridge in Monasterevin.

One local took to Facebook in the past few days to highlight the "dangerous pothhole" on the back road into Kildare, just before the lights at Rathbride Close.

He said his daughter suffered a blowout after hitting it.

He placed a cone inside the pothole to warn other drivers.

While Kildare drivers are not among the most prolific claimants nationally, the scale of payouts is still notable: the council has paid nearly €17,000 in compensation for pothole-related vehicle damage since 2022, up to June of this year.

Locals can make a claim to the county council if their cars are damaged as a result of pothole damage.

Claims can be made via IPB Insurance.

Residents can access IPB Insurance at https://ipb.ie and follow the steps provided in the “Claims” section.

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