---

Recalibrated PI awards to reflect recent jurisprudence

The proposed amendments to the Personal Injuries Guidelines are a significant adjustment to ensure that compensation awards remain fair, proportionate, and economically reflective of current conditions, Eversheds Sutherland (ES) lawyers in Dublin have said.

Awards are set to increase by 16.7%, reflecting the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rise since 2021, sparked by inflationary pressures.

Adjustments

The recalibration will also incorporate recent jurisprudence, the ES lawyers state.

Adjustments to guidance sections will align with recent judgments from the Superior Courts.

Updates will also allow judges to apply the guidelines more flexibly in real-world scenarios, such as in cases involving multiple overlapping injuries.

Revised values to reflect 16.7% increase:

Less severe

These adjustments highlight the proportional rise in awards for the most severe cases, such as quadriplegia, brain damage, and severe sensory impairments, while also addressing the less severe, such as shoulder and ankle injuries, the ES briefing note states.

The Judicial Council will review the proposed amendments in January and, if approved, the proposals will go to the Minister for Justice.

They must be approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas before becoming law.