Vol. 573 No. 3
146 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Defence the total 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. [25261/03]
By 30 September 2003, a total of 16,663 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 327 claims have been determined in court and 14,399 have been disposed of out of court, mainly through settlements, leaving a total of 1,937 claims outstanding at that date. Some €270.8 million has been paid in respect of hearing loss claims, including €90.2 million in plaintiffs' legal costs.
