Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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178. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of personal injury cases decided by the High Court in the years 2012 and to date in 2013 which relate to actions for personal injury arising out of road traffic collisions, in circumstances where the applicant had refused the award recommended by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board. [52294/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions, which include the provision of information on the courts system. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and have been informed by the Courts Service that data is not captured in such a way as to provide the information sought by the Deputy. I am advised by the Courts Service that under Section 32 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 the Injuries Board issues authorisations to bring court proceedings, in respect of a wide range of personal injuries including trip and fall incidents, accidents in the workplace as well as road traffic collision cases. These authorisations do not state the category of case for which the authorisation is issued. In addition the Injuries Board is required under the Act to issue an authorisation whether it is the claimant/applicant who refuses to accept the settlement offer, or whether the defendant refuses to accept the assessment. The authorisation does not indicate which party refused the assessment.