Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hearing Impairment Claims.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

239 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the number of compensation claims made by the Department to the UN in respect of military personnel who served with the UN in relation to disability claims for noise induced hearing loss between the years 1975 and 1991 inclusive. [8879/98]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

There were no civil legal claims alleging hearing impairment finalised between 1975 and 1991 which are appropriate for reimbursement by the UN. One former sergeant is in receipt of a disability pension awarded under the Army Pensions Act for hearing loss sustained while on UN service. This pension has been recouped from the United Nations.

The vast majority of successful litigants claiming for hearing loss against the Department are compensated on the basis that the injury they sustained was received while on service in Ireland.