What changed, and when

21 October 2026, organisation

Litigation remains the main channel for injury claims

The Law Society Gazette reports the Central Bank's 2025 National Claims Information Database report (20 October 2026) found litigation remained the predominant channel for settling injury claims, though compensation through the Injuries Resolution Board was comparable to other channels for claims under €100,000. Claims made up about 60% of premiums received, with injury compensation around 17% and vehicle damage 32%.

Changes: lib/figures/register.config.json centralBank.channelMix: 2025 litigation-vs-Board figures, entered by a human

20 October 2026, press report

Central Bank data: personal injury claims costs up 14%

The Irish Times reports Central Bank data, from the same motor insurance report noted below, showing the average personal injury claims cost per policy rose 14% to €228 in 2025, against a 6% rise to €197 for vehicle damage. Insurers link the rise partly to larger claims and more cases going to litigation, driving up legal costs.

Changes: lib/figures/register.config.json centralBank.channelMix: 2025 injury and damage claims-cost breakdown, entered by a human

20 October 2026, press report

Central Bank: 2025 motor claims settle faster through the Board

RTÉ reports that the Central Bank's 2025 National Claims Information Database private motor report found average premiums up 4% to €655, injury claims through the Injuries Resolution Board averaging 2.6 years against 4.7 years through litigation, and average compensation down 13% on 2019.

Changes: lib/figures/register.config.json centralBank.channelMix: 2025, entered by a human

6 October 2026, press report

Budget 2027 raises core welfare rates by €10 a week

The Budget delivered on 6 October 2026 raises core weekly social welfare rates by €10 from January 2027, covering about 1.6 million people including pensioners, jobseekers, carers and disability recipients. Press coverage did not name Illness Benefit or Injury Benefit specifically; the exact 2027 Injury Benefit rate awaits the Social Welfare Act.

Changes: lib/rules/board.config.json welfare: a 2027 Injury Benefit rate with effectiveFrom 2027-01-01, once the Social Welfare Act is enacted

10 September 2026, official record

Board commissions survey on accepting or rejecting assessments

The Injuries Resolution Board announced an Ipsos B&A survey of claimants and respondents on why assessments are accepted or rejected. Half of assessments were accepted in 2024 and 47% during 2025. No change to any rule.

27 July 2026, official record

Amended Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme takes effect

The amended Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted took effect on 27 July 2026. It removes the earlier exclusion of pain and suffering under a new paragraph 8A, but the quantum is calculated within guidance the Minister has not yet published. Claims made before that date keep the earlier terms for heads other than pain and suffering.

8 July 2026, official record

Annual Report 2025: 20,077 applications, median award €14,020

The Board published its Annual Report 2025 and the Award Values Report for July to December 2025: applications down 4% on 2024 and 35% on 2019, 10,032 awards worth €213 million, a median of €14,020 (up 7%), mediation agreed in 54% of cases in about three months, and over €88 million in savings claimed.

Changes: lib/figures/register.config.json: the 2025 year, entered by a human

20 January 2026, official record

General Scheme of the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2026

The Government approved a General Scheme moving reviews of the Personal Injuries Guidelines from every three years to every five, and adding a route for the Council to reconsider amendments. The 16.7% increase approved in December 2024 remains outside the Oireachtas.

1 December 2025, official record

Respondent charge rises to €1,200

S.I. No. 557/2025 set the charge a respondent pays the Board at €1,200 from 1 December 2025, up from €1,050. The claimant's application fee is unchanged.

Changes: lib/rules/board.config.json respondent.charge.rates: entered with effectiveFrom 2025-12-01

31 October 2025, official record

Central Bank: motor claims by channel in 2024

The seventh private motor NCID report: 16% of injury claims settled through the Board, taking 2.7 years on average, and 36% through litigation, taking 5 years. Litigated claims cost far more in legal fees than Board or direct settlements.

Changes: lib/figures/register.config.json centralBank.channelMix: 2024, entered by a human

4 February 2025, official record

Amended Guidelines submitted to Minister; no Oireachtas vote sought

Following the Council's meeting of 31 January 2025, the amended Guidelines were submitted to the Minister for Justice under section 7(2B) of the Judicial Council Act 2019, on 4 February 2025. Irish Legal News reported in January 2026 that the Minister "decided not to seek approval for the increase from the Oireachtas"; the 2021 Guidelines remain in force and no resolution has been moved.

14 December 2024, official record

Judicial Council approves amended Guidelines

The Council approved amendments raising the Guidelines' figures by 16.7% overall. They do not take effect until both Houses of the Oireachtas pass a resolution, which has not been moved.

Changes: lib/rules/guidelines.config.json: a second edition with effectiveFrom, only after the Oireachtas resolution