Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I do not believe such detail is available. Apart from the age of the vehicles, to which Deputy O'Shea referred, the variables might include the number and length of journeys undertaken, the number of personnel involved and similar issues which may not be easily extrapolated from tables of this nature.

I have some additional information with regard to outstanding cases. I made the point that some 66 cases arose during those years but 93 cases were settled. Clearly, several of the cases settled predated 2006 and that would have led on from year to year. In 2010, a total of seven claims have been made up to this point. It appears that two of these have been settled and five remain unsettled, a relatively high proportion in a short time. In 2009, some 15 of the 18 cases were still not settled.

It seems there is a considerable time lag between the time of an accident and its resolution although I have seen some information which suggests that the involvement of the State Claims Agency has shortened that timescale. There are some long-standing historical cases which have not been progressed. They remain part of the total because they have not been resolved one way or another. As for the kernel of the question, I have not been able to find a pattern that would indicate the causes.

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