Dublin Council paid out €8m in personal injury claims in 2014

More than €8 million was paid by Dublin City Council last year to settle personal injury claims by the public and the council's employees.

New figures show just over 1,200 public liability claims were made against the council last year, with broken limbs, facial injuries, shoulder and back injuries among the most common.

Compensation paid to the public cost the council €7.7 million in 2014.

Separately, the council paid more than €617,000 for staff injury claims. However, an analysis of figures for the previous two years suggests the final account for employee claims last year will be considerably higher.

In 2012, concerning claims made by 61 council workers, 53 claims were settled and more than €1.26 million was spent. In 2013, 62 claims were made but only 49 were paid. But they cost €1.51 million.

Last year the number of claims increased to 71. By the end of the year 23 had been settled, at a cost of €617,325.

Employee claims

Of the almost €3.4 million spent on employee claims since the start of 2012, just two-thirds was paid in compensation to staff injured on the job, and a third was spent on legal costs and fees for engineers’ reports.

While injuries to workers were largely similar to those of the public, with back and limb damage common, staff also made claims for “needle-stick” injuries at work.

Fianna Fáil councillor Jim O’Callaghan, who got the figures from the council, said it was particularly worrying that staff claims increased every year.

“The city must review its measures and introduce safer systems of work for its employees urgently,” he said.

“The rise of needle-stick injuries sustained is particularly worrying and brings focus on the provision of personal-protection equipment and appropriate training for staff.”

Mr O’Callaghan questioned whether financial cutbacks in recent years had resulted in compromises in safety, which were pushing up the costs of claims as well as putting people’s lives at risk.

The council said it provides personal-protection equipment to employees where necessary in addition to safety training.