Settlements of staff injury claims against Dublin City Council have amounted to more than €2.3 million in the past three years according to figures released by Ireland´s largest local authority.
The figures do not take into account employees´ injury claims for compensation against Dublin City Council which were still outstanding at the end of the year – 155 in all – with 37 claims before the High Court due to their potential high value, 46 at Circuit Court level and 72 still in the pre-proceedings stage.
In 2012 alone, 65 staff injury claims against Dublin City Council were made of which 49 claims were settled for €1,001,370 (47 settled for €925,438 in 2011/42 settled for €465,647 in 2010).
None of the claims for staff injuries against Dublin City Council were processed through mediation or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ARD) – a fact which concerned independent city councillor Nial Ring.
Mr Ring, who himself is a qualified mediator, said “”I’m well aware of the benefits of ARD and I’m surprised that it hasn’t been taken up in these cases. Its benefits in terms of cost savings and speedy resolutions are well known.”
A council spokesperson confirmed that settlements of staff injury claims against Dublin City Council which were below €500,000 were paid out of city funds. “Mediation is used by the city council whenever possible” she commented. “It must be agreed to by all parties concerned.”
The volume and value of employees´ injury claims for compensation against Dublin City Council do not include the hundreds of legal claims from members of the public who claim they are injured in the city. Last year over €6 million was paid out in compensation to members of the public; with the average settlement of a claim just over €11,000.