Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
101 Mr. Quinn 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 amount paid out to date in terms of damages or legal costs; the number of such claims outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1508/05]
View answerBy 31 December 2004 a total of 16,731 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. A total of 332 claims have been determined in court and 15,099 have been disposed of out of court, mainly through settlement, leaving a total of 1,300 claims outstanding at that date. A total of €277.6 million has been paid in respect of hearing loss claims, including €93.4 million in plaintiff's legal costs.
