Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 362: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the Personal Injuries Assessment Board has received a personal injury claim from a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if so, the reason it is taking so long to process the claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31892/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Personal Injuries Assessment Board, PIAB, was established by ministerial order on 13 April 2004. From 1 June 2004, all personal injury claims arising from workplace accidents where an employee is seeking compensation from his or her employer, must be referred to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board before legal proceedings are issued. From 22 July 2004, all motor liability and public liability claims must also be referred to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board before legal proceedings are issued.

The issue of individual claims being handled by the PIAB is a day-to-day operational matter for which the CEO of the PIAB is responsible. However, I have been informed by the PIAB that the named person has a personal injury case before them. The case was first notified to the PIAB on 16 June 2005. Therefore, the case is well within the nine-month statutory assessment period as set out in section 49 of the PIAB Act 2003. It is also worth noting that this nine-month assessment period compares very favourably with the litigation system, where claims take on average three years to be settled.