The Injuries Resolution Board said the median award in 2025 was €14,020, up from €13,100 in 2024. However, it remained 24 per cent below the 2020 median of €18,459, which the board attributed to the continued impact of the Personal Injuries Guidelines.

The increase came despite a fall in the number of claims. The board received 20,077 applications in 2025, down four per cent on the previous year and 35 per cent below 2019 levels. It said the decline reflected wider reforms to the personal injuries regime.

Minor injuries accounted for 74 per cent of awards. The board issued 10,032 compensation awards during the year, a 17 per cent increase on 2024, with total compensation reaching €213 million.

It said it delivered more than €88m in savings by resolving claims without litigation, €12m more than the previous year. The rise in the median award was driven by higher special damages, including medical expenses and loss of earnings, which are more closely linked to inflation and living costs.

Chief executive Rosalind Carroll said mediation continued to grow, achieving a settlement rate of 54 per cent.

“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,” she said.