Two reports released by the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) show the number of personal injury claims continued to fall last year and is more than a third lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both the IRB Annual Report for 2025 and the latest Personal Injuries Award Values Report for the second half of last year show 20,077 claims were submitted to the board in 2025, which was a 4% drop on 2024 and 35% below 2019 levels.

According to the research, the board delivered over €88 million in savings – an increase of €12 million compared to 2024 – through the avoidance of legal costs due to accepted claims not progressing to litigation.

The report says the figures “reflect the sustained impact of reforms across the personal injuries landscape”.

All personal injury claims in Ireland must come to the IRB unless they are settled early.

Meanwhile, the total value of compensation awards issued during 2025 was €213 million – which was an increase on the previous year – however, the report said the rise was driven “primarily by an increase in the volume of awards that the board assessed”.

Overall, the board issued 10,032 compensation awards last year, which was 17% higher than 2024.

The two reports note the values of personal injury claims “remained broadly stable in 2025”.

The median award was €14,020 – up 7% on 2024 but 24% lower than the 2020 median award of €18,459 – which the IRB said “reflects the sustained impact of the Personal Injuries Guidelines”.

The board added that the median award – when special damages are excluded – is the same as 2024 at €12,000.

“This shows significant stability in the median award value and reflects that increases in special damages has impacted overall awards,” the IRB said.

Special damages cover out-of-pocket expenses such as medical and treatment costs, as well as loss of earnings.

IRB Chief Executive Rosalind Carroll said 2025 was “a strong year of delivery and progress.

“Mediation continues to grow as a fast and effective resolution channel, with increased uptake and an agreement rate of 54%, supporting resolution in an average of just three months.”

Ms Carroll added that “in terms of the personal injuries’ environment, it is a very different environment to six years ago, with over 10,000 fewer claims on average per year being made and the value and nature of claims changing significantly in this period.

Continued action needed to lower claims costs – Alliance for Insurance Reform

The Alliance for Insurance Reform welcomed the progress outlined by the IRB but said continued action is needed to ensure lower claims costs translate into lower insurance costs.

Tracy Sheridan, Owner of Kidspace play centres and a Board member of the Alliance, said: “These figures confirm what we have been saying for some time – Ireland’s insurance reforms are working.

“However, reform only matters if the benefits reach policyholders. Insurers must now demonstrate that savings are being passed on to the businesses, voluntary organisations, community groups and consumers who endured years of unsustainable insurance costs.”

Ms Sheridan added that “despite the progress made on reducing personal injury claim costs across motor, employer liability and public liability claims, Central Bank NCID data show that many policyholders are still waiting to see the full benefit of reform.

“Liability premiums increased by 23% between 2020 and 2024, even as the personal injuries environment changed significantly following the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines.”

Insurance Ireland also welcomed the IRB report findings, with Chief Executive of the group representing insurers, Moyagh Murdock, CEO of Insurance Ireland, saying they provide “further evidence of the important progress made in reforming Ireland’s personal injuries system”.

Ms Murdock said the drops in injury claims and awards since 2019 “are significant outcomes for claimants, consumers, and businesses and demonstrate the importance of protecting the progress achieved through the Government’s Insurance Reform Agenda.

“The Injuries Resolution Board continues to demonstrate that it is the most effective route for resolving personal injury claims fairly, quickly and without unnecessary cost.”