Kerry County Council paid out near €1.4m in compensation claims in opposition to it over the previous 12 months, in response to newest figures launched by the native authority.
The majority of the cash was paid out for journeys and falls throughout the county — with 117 individuals succeeding of their actions in opposition to the council.
Director of Finance, Angela McAllen, advised the Christmas assembly of Kerry County Council {that a} whole of €985,925 was paid out for 117 finalised claims which have been “principally of the slips and falls kind”.
Some €400,000 has been paid out in 36 different claims introduced by people in opposition to the council involving property, harm to autos throughout street works, IT points, engineering and different points.
The knowledge on what number of insurance coverage claims Irish Public Our bodies — the council’s umbrella insurer — had paid out was sought by Unbiased Killarney councillor Brendan Cronin. He criticised what he stated was the lack of awareness from the council and stated there was “a scarcity of transparency”.
Knowledge safety guidelines imply the council can not identify people who sue the council, it has stated beforehand.
The council now has 24 completely different insurance policies with IPB throughout a variety of companies together with employers legal responsibility, public legal responsibility, property, motor and cyber safety insurance coverage. Some €4.14m has been put apart by the council to satisfy the price of insurance coverage insurance policies in 2024.
“The insurance coverage insurance policies defend the council in opposition to potential claims and loss beneath a variety of actions and repair supply,” the council stated in a report back to Mr Cronin. It additionally stated the council’s insurance coverage unit “screens and investigates”.
There was a slight lower each within the variety of claims and the price of insurance coverage premiums prior to now 12 months, the council stated. Nevertheless the claims can differ “on an ongoing foundation”.
Mr Cronin stated he wished extra data, specifically how lots of the claims have been settled with out going to court docket and if sure places have been repeatedly developing in journeys and falls claims.
Mr Cronin stated it was time to name within the insurance coverage group overseeing journeys and falls and ask them for an evaluation.
“We have to know what are the precise claims for. The reply is just too obscure. Over €4m in insurance policies is being paid out by this council and we don’t need the names of people however we do want places,” Mr Cronin stated.
Such data was mandatory in order to establish if a specific path may very well be rectified, he stated.
Kerry’s public legal responsibility payouts have amounted to €11.5m within the 4 years from 2018 to 2022. The county is among the many prime 14 relating to the overall price of claims per head of inhabitants in response to a report by the Nationwide Oversight and Audit Fee (NOAC) carried out for the yr 2022.
The NOAC discovered the very best was Dublin Metropolis, adopted by Co Louth, Cork Metropolis after which Limerick Metropolis and County.
