Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
38 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Defence the number of claims for damages for deafness determined in court or settled out of court at the latest date for which figures are available; the total amount paid out to date in terms of damages or legal costs; the total number of such claims outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9288/04]
View answerBy 29 February 2004, a total of 16,702 claims had been received in my Department from current and former members of the Defence Forces in respect of loss of hearing allegedly caused during their military service. Some 330 claims have been determined in court and 14,753 have been disposed of out of court, mainly through settlement, leaving a total of 1,619 claims outstanding at that date. €274 million has been paid in respect of hearing loss claims including €91.5 million in plaintiffs' legal costs.
