State Claims Agency

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Ceisteanna (1018, 1019)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

1018. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the specific number of maternity cases involved in the State Claims Agency damages payout in each of the years 2007 to 2014 of €282,883,052 [41604/16]

Clare Daly

Ceist:

1019. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of the maternity cases involved in the State Claims Agency damages payout in each of the years 2007 to 2014 that are bound by confidentiality agreements. [41605/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1018 and 1019 together.

A total of €282,883,052 was paid in damages in cases relating to 'Maternity Services' through the State Claims Agency between the transactional years 2007 and 2015.

The State Claims Agency has informed my officials that damages payments were made on 450 separate claims involving the 'Maternity Services' during this transactional period. It is important to note that payments may be made in relation to a single case across multiple transactional years. This is reflected in the table below which shows a total of 489 payments for those 450 separate claims. A breakdown of the amounts paid each year is set out below.

Year of transaction	Number of Claims for which Damages payments were made	Payment – Damages (including special and general damages)
2007	15	€6,306,100
2008	35	€19,173,135
2009	38	€12,304,382
2010	54	€23,988,384
2011	61	€29,574,808
2012	55	€22,317,384
2013	69	€44,619,121
2014	61	€40,471,681
2015	101	€84,118,059
Total	489*	€282,883,052

*Payments may be made in relation to a single case across multiple transactional years.

The State Claims Agency has also informed me that it settles very few claims that are subject to a confidentiality agreement, with the exception of cases settled through mediation. The agency does not formally record settlements that are bound by a confidentiality clause on its IT system.