The State Claims Agency (SCA) has revealed medical negligence made up, by far, the largest percentage of compensation claims paid out against the State last year.
The main finding of the report was that, by far, that largest portion of compensation pay outs by the SCA in 2017 was taken up by the public medical sector.
In 2017 €248.88m was paid out by the State in relation to clinical negligence claims in 2017. This represents a rise 20.6% on the €206.4m figure paid out during 2016.
The figures were made available to Fianna Fail Finance Spokesman Michael McGrath in response to the question submitted to the Minister for Finance Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe. He had asked for financial details of the sums paid out by the State in compensation claims.
The official response from the Minister for Finance show that that the SCA has paid out €1.123bn since 2010 in relation to medical negligence claims. Between this figure for clinical claims, and a further €32.87m in general claims awarded against the general health sector, €1.235bn has been paid out since 2010.
Major rises experienced in compensation claims against the following area over the last seven years:
- Personal injury claims awarded against the Defence Forces = €23.6m
- Irish Prison Service personal injury claims = €19m
- TUSLA, since it was established in 2013, has paid out €11
- Other state authorities have paid out €111m since 2010.
Other significant point to note from compensation claims made against the state in 2017 were as follows:
- The SCA, on behalf of Comprehensive and Community Schools, paid out €1.38m
- Department of Health pay outs were €296,673
- The Department of Justice paid out €261,569 in personal injury compensation
- Children’s’ Detention Schools paid out €196,090
