• With premiums continuing to rise, the government cannot increase personal injury awards at this time. 

• Insurance companies continue to prioritise profits over policyholders.

• Report makes clear the positive impact the Injuries Board has had regarding the fair and prompt resolution of personal injury claims for over 20 years.

The Alliance for Insurance Reform welcomes the publication of the Injuries Resolution Board 2024 Annual Report. The report makes clear the positive impact the Injuries Board has had regarding the fair and prompt resolution of personal injury claims for over 20 years. 

Of note from the Injuries Board report: 

• More than €76 million has been saved in avoided legal costs in 2024 alone. 
• Claim volumes remained 33% lower than 2019 levels, reflecting the continued impact of the Personal Injuries Guidelines.
• Acceptance rates grew again to 50% up from 48% in 2023.
• In 2024 there has been no increase in claims in public liability and a 5% decrease in employer liability. 

Speaking about today’s report, Alliance board member Ivan Cooper said: “the report makes clear that significant savings are being generated due to avoided legal costs and the volume of claims coming down by a third (2). These facts alone warrant meaningful and sustained reductions in insurance premiums, but instead we continue to see insurance companies prioritise profits over their policyholders (3). There is no justification for liability premiums for businesses, sports, community and voluntary groups to be increasing and yet they continue to do so.”

Ivan also said: “In the face of ever-rising insurance premiums we urge the government not to increase personal injury awards by 17% – something they are actively considering. To do so now will guarantee the cost of insurance goes up even further. Given the cost of living and cost of business challenges at present, does the government not know people simply can’t afford for this to happen?”

—ENDS—

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: contact@insurancereform.ie or Alliance CEO, Brian Hanley at 086 8620 974.

Notes:

1. The Alliance for Insurance Reform brings together 47 civic and business organisations from across Ireland, representing over 55,000 members, 700,000 employees, 614,000 volunteers and 374,000 students in highlighting the negative impact of persistently high premiums and calling for real reforms that will quickly reduce liability and motor insurance premiums to affordable levels and keep them that way.
2. 
3. The most recent NCID liability report from the Central Bank published in March 2025 found that premiums increased by 4% in 2023 and have increased by 17% since 2020, despite a range of government reforms. The liability market has also proven highly profitable for insurers, showing an operating profit of 13% in 2023 (2.5 times greater than international norms).
4. If we continually review upwards personal injury awards every three years and it takes two and a half years to settle a claim at the Injuries Board, claimants will simply hold on a few months and bring their case into litigation. Not only will awards increase but legal fees will increase the cost of claims exponentially (see 5 below). Awards in Ireland are still appreciably higher than in other European countries, particularly for minor and moderate injuries. 
5. The same NCID liability report showed that average legal costs are less than €1,000 for cases finalised at the Injuries Board but over €23,000 once it enters into litigation, whilst awards for claimants were the same in either channel (also at €23,000). Almost 70% of cases settle in the litigation channel.