Business
Rise in personal injury claims
Personal injuries claimants in Galway received a total of €2.5 million last year – the fourth highest total in the country.
The average award made in respect of 86 public liability claims was €28,515 – only the ninth highest average in the country, according to figures just revealed by the Injuries Board.
Nationally, the Injuries Board made 2,151 PL awards last year with corresponding compensation totalling €53m, compared to €44m in 2013 in respect of 1,768 awards.
Exactly half of public liability awards were for amounts under €20,000 with just ten awards related to high value claims in excess of €100,000.
The average public liability award decreased slightly to €24,677 last year, compared to €25,120 in 2013.
The figures reveal that the summer months are the most dangerous period for public place accidents that result in a personal injury claim.
Last year, July was the month that recorded the highest frequency of accidents resulting in compensation awards, while Saturday proved to be the most dangerous day of the week for public place personal injury accidents.
Figures over the last three years have consistently shown that women are far more likely than men to suffer an accident in a public place resulting in a public liability award. This gap narrowed slightly in 2014, with women now accounting for almost seven out of ten of all public liability awards, compared to 31.1% for men. The average award for men was €24,275 while women were awarded average compensation of €24,859.
Continuing the trend of recent years, slips, trips and falls were by far the main cause of public liability accidents, accounting for 70% of all PL awards. Uneven or broken pavements/footpaths, and wet or slippery floors/surfaces are the most common causes of slips, trips and falls.
The majority of such claims involved predominantly soft tissue injuries and minor fractures.
The analysis of public liability awards also indicated that shops, supermarkets and shopping centres are the top business premises for accidents that result in a public liability claim. Smaller numbers of accidents occur in nightclubs, bars, fast food outlets and restaurants.
The Injuries Board is the independent state body that makes statutory personal injury (PI) awards in respect of motor, employer and public liability accidents.
Personal injury claims are required to be submitted to the Board unless settled directly between parties. Public liability (PL) awards are made in respect of injuries suffered as a result of an accident in a public place.
The new President of Local Ireland, the association representing local news publishers around the country, is Head of Irish Times Regionals Dan Linehan.
Mr Linehan takes over the presidency from Declan McGuire of the Connacht Tribune. His appointment was confirmed at the recent Annual General Meeting of Local Ireland at Bloomfield House Hotel near Mullingar, Westmeath.
Mr Linehan, who has served as Vice President of the organisation for the last two years, said: “The coming years are a very important time for local publishers with many important issues to be addressed, including the implementation of the Future of Media Commission recommendations, defamation reform, the role and support for local publishers in public service reporting and helping publishers develop commercial digital offerings.”
Speaking at the AGM, Mr McGuire acknowledged the work done by the Executive in the past two years under the direction of Executive Director, Bob Hughes, on several projects related to the publishing industry but most especially the successful conclusion of the long-running campaign for the abolition of VAT on newspapers.
He also wished Mr Linehan the very best in his new role as President of the association for the next two years.
Mr Hughes thanked Mr McGuire for his leadership and support during his term of office and said he looked forward to working with Mr Linehan on the key policy priorities for the association, including Government supports, Government advertising, fair remuneration for content from the tech platforms and the reform of the legislation for defamation.
Local Ireland members also elected Seán Mahon, Managing Director of the Southern Star, as Vice President for the next two years.
The shortage of affordable housing is the single biggest impediment in attracting and retaining workers in the West, according to business group Ibec.
At a ‘Regional Insights Series’ meeting in the Galmont Hotel in Galway last week, employers were told that capacity constraints and labour supply are the key challenges facing business growth in the region.
Ibec Head of Regional Policy Helen Leahy said: “There must be greater focus by government on enhancing quality of life issues such as housing and infrastructure which are driving labour shortages in the region.
“Ibec’s vision for the West is to realise its potential to become a globally competitive location. An inadequate supply of affordable housing is now the single largest impediment to attracting and retaining talented workers, without whom business investment and expansions are not possible.
“Labour shortages are a real concern for businesses in the region. People decide where to live and work based on quality of life and access to high quality services and amenities. Industry tends to follow talent, and in this regard, the region needs to have all the building blocks in place as the attraction and retention of world-class talent becomes increasingly competitive on a global level,” said Ms Leahy.
Amongst Ibec’s priorities for the West are:
- Addressing housing and infrastructure challenges
- Transitioning towards a new growth model with Net Zero energy powered by Atlantic offshore wind resources
- Adapting businesses to the new economic realities
- Enhancing capacity and skillsets to achieve sustainable development objectives
- Investment in people and skills
- Creating competitive advantage through digitalisation
- Innovation as a key driver of productivity growth
One in five Galway businesses want to go fully cashless, as the move towards card payments and tapping continues unabated post-Covid.
In all, 22% of Galway businesses would like to be fully cashless, according to a survey carried out by BOI Payment Acceptance (BOIPA), a provider of payment technology solutions, which asked Irish businesses about the current payment landscape as well as business confidence and concerns.
Over one-third (36%) of Galway businesses were unaware there is no contactless limit on mobile wallets – just below the national average – while 54% believe the increase in card over cash transactions has helped them run their business.
Six out of ten Galway businesses expect to grow this year despite the cost-of-living crisis and running costs dominating as key concerns; 62% believe their business will grow over the next twelve months despite global economic uncertainty.
Unsurprisingly cost-of-living increases and running costs were the main concerns the majority of businesses had.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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