Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 November 2025
257. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the total number of claims handled by the State Claims Agency, the number of claims settled; the number successfully defended; the number resolved without admission of liability; the median and average settlement amount in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65245/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the breakdown of State Claims Agency settlements, by claim category (details supplied), including for each category the number of claims, the total value of settlements, the median payout; the highest and lowest settlement values, in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65246/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.
The State Claims Agency (SCA) is obliged by statute to manage delegated claims and counterclaims in such manner as to ensure that the liability of the State authorities is contained at the lowest achievable level. In performing this function, the SCA seeks to act fairly, ethically and sensitively in dealing with people who have suffered injuries and/or damage, and their families. In cases where the SCA investigation concludes that the relevant State authority bears some or all liability, the SCA seeks to settle claims expeditiously and on fair and reasonable terms. Where it considers that the State is not liable, the SCA’s policy is to defend the claims.
The SCA is not in a position to provide data in respect of the median or average settlement amounts, nor the highest or lowest settlement amounts, in respect of these claims. Due to the nature of the claims, and the range of categories of claims in this instance, providing data could lead to misinterpretation and misleading comparison, in the absence of proper context.
As supplied by the NTMA please see attached Table 1 which shows the number of claims finalised during the period 2020-2024 where no damages were paid and Table 2 which shows the number of claims finalised during the period 2020-2024 where damages were paid, broken down by the top five incident/hazard categories.
Claim Finalised Date
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Grand Total |
|
Number of Claims Finalised |
1,093 |
1,724 |
1,365 |
1,442 |
1,538 |
7,162 |
Table 1. The number of claims* finalised during the period 2020-2024 where no damages were paid.
*Excluding property damage recovery claims
|
Incident/Hazard Category |
|
Claim Finalised Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
Grand Total |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
511 |
865 |
279 |
240 |
238 |
2,133 |
|
Exposure to Psychological hazards |
Paid Damages |
€12,747,189 |
€17,758,104 |
€17,500,742 |
€21,650,524 |
€27,960,130 |
€97,616,688 |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
486 |
355 |
291 |
397 |
460 |
1,989 |
|
Clinical Care |
Paid Damages |
€248,825,770 |
€204,747,265 |
€124,837,021 |
€285,278,742 |
€288,096,891 |
€1,151,785,690 |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
350 |
352 |
368 |
419 |
368 |
1,857 |
|
Exposure to Physical Hazards |
Paid Damages |
€17,647,782 |
€16,557,632 |
€16,499,069 |
€19,214,969 |
€16,130,064 |
€86,049,516 |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
284 |
336 |
311 |
384 |
426 |
1,741 |
|
Crash/Collision |
Paid Damages |
€2,381,619 |
€2,912,115 |
€2,061,363 |
€3,306,328 |
€6,000,688 |
€16,662,113 |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
134 |
129 |
125 |
142 |
351 |
881 |
|
Exposure to Behavioural Hazards |
Paid Damages |
€12,702,392 |
€9,577,545 |
€8,198,276 |
€9,622,645 |
€18,698,774 |
€58,799,631 |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
194 |
167 |
206 |
284 |
251 |
1102 |
|
Other** |
Paid Damages |
€3,137,337 |
€1,511,114 |
€2,756,612 |
€73,771,169 |
€31,697,172 |
€112,873,404 |
|
|
Number of Finalised Claims |
1,959 |
2,204 |
1,580 |
1,866 |
2,094 |
9,703 |
|
Grand Total |
Paid Damages |
€297,442,088 |
€253,063,775 |
€171,853,083 |
€412,844,377 |
€388,583,720 |
€1,523,787,043 |
Table 2. The number of claims* finalised during the period 2020-2024 where damages were paid, broken down by the top five incident/hazard categories.
*Excluding property damage recovery claims
**Other includes all other incident/hazard categories.
