A STATE claims agency is to be established by the Government to deal with personal injury and compensation claims. The heads of a Bill to put the agency on a statutory basis was approved by the Cabinet yesterday.
A spokesman for the Department of Finance said last night that savings of up to £100 million could have been made on the Army deafness claims if the agency had been handling them.
The state claims agency is intended to provide a speedier, more cost effective approach to the handing of insurance claims against the State, according to the Department.
It will comprise an organisation of about 40 people, employing insurance claims managers, assessors, legal experts and an administrative staff.
A chief executive will be appointed who will report to the board of the agency. The chairman of the board will report to the Minister for Finance.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett, told the Dail yesterday that there were approximately 3,000 claims from former members of the Defence Forces alleging some degree of hearing impairment due to negligence. Liability was an issue in each claim.
Since 1990 he said, 359 cases had been settled at a cost of £12.7 million, including legal costs. The projected cost to the State of the claims on hand, including legal costs, was in excess of £270 million. The State's legal costs would bring the total to £350 million.
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