Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) in Ireland: The Complete 2026 Claim Guide
In short: The Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) is the independent State body that assesses most personal injury claims in Ireland before they can go to court. Understanding how the Board works is the first step to pursuing fair compensation for an injury in Ireland, because almost every claim must pass through it first. In 2024 the Board assessed claims in an average of 11.2 months and made awards worth 168 million euro, with a median award of 13,100 euro.[1] This guide maps the full journey, from the first notice letter through assessment or mediation to an award or an authorisation to go to court. It links to a detailed guide for every stage.
On this page
Figures: Injuries Resolution Board Annual Report 2024 and Personal Injuries Award Values Report H1 2025. Awards vary case by case and are assessed under the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines.
What is the Injuries Resolution Board?
The IRB is Ireland's independent body for personal injury claims. It assesses how much compensation an injured person should receive after a road traffic, workplace, or public place accident. It does this far faster than litigation, and without the cost and delay of a court case. The Board was set up in 2004 and marked its twentieth year in 2024.
The Board was formerly known as the Personal Injuries Assessment Board, or PIAB. It was renamed on 14 December 2023 under the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022, which also widened what it can do. Alongside its long-standing assessment role, the Board can now offer voluntary mediation and can assess wholly psychological injuries, two things the old PIAB could not handle. If you are researching an older "PIAB" claim, you are in the right place, because the process is the same body under a new name and a broader remit.
One point causes a lot of confusion, so it is worth stating plainly. The Board values your claim, but it does not decide who was at fault. Liability and the amount of compensation are two separate questions. The Board calculates the amount. If the other side disputes who caused the accident, the Board steps aside and issues an authorisation that lets you bring the matter to court instead. The Board is also specific to Ireland. There is no direct equivalent in the United Kingdom. There, personal injury claims are pursued through pre-action protocols and the courts rather than a single State assessment body, so guidance written for England, Wales, or Northern Ireland does not apply here. For a fuller explanation of the body, its history, and its powers, see what the Injuries Resolution Board is.
Who must use the IRB, and who does not?
Almost every claim except medical negligence starts here. Nearly every personal injury claim in Ireland must be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board before court proceedings can begin. That includes the three largest categories of claim, and motor claims alone made up roughly seven in ten of the claims the Board handled in 2024.
| Claim type | Goes through the IRB first? |
|---|---|
| Road traffic accident (motor liability) | Yes |
| Accident at work (employer liability) | Yes |
| Accident in a public place (public liability) | Yes |
| Medical negligence | No, these go straight to litigation |
Medical negligence is the one clear exception. Proving such a claim turns on complex expert evidence about the standard of care. For that reason these claims do not go through the Board and instead proceed through the courts from the start. If your concern is about hospital or GP care rather than an accident, our medical negligence claims section explains that separate pathway. A small number of other claims, such as those involving an open-ended psychological prognosis, can also be released to the courts where the Board decides assessment is not appropriate.
Check whether your claim goes through the IRB
Answer two quick questions for general guidance on your route. This tool gives information only, not legal advice, and it does not estimate the value of any claim.
What kind of accident or injury was it?
When did the accident happen?
General information only and not a substitute for legal advice. Time limits can be affected by your date of knowledge, by claims involving children, and by other factors. Check your own dates with a solicitor.
The IRB claim journey at a glance
Most IRB claims follow the same six stages. You notify the person responsible, apply to the Board, attend a medical assessment, wait for the Board to value the claim, and then decide whether to accept the figure. Each stage below links to a dedicated guide, so you can go straight to whatever you need right now.
How long the IRB really takes in 2026
The real average in 2024 was 11.2 months. The Board's own figures show that timeline, even though the statutory target is 9 months. Just over half of all awards, 51 percent, were issued within that 9 month target in 2024, up from 46 percent the year before.[1] So the headline "9 months" that many websites quote is the goal, not the typical experience. The honest answer most claimants need is closer to eleven months from the date the respondent agrees to the process.
That wait is frustrating when you are injured and out of pocket, but it usually works in your favour. The Board should not value a claim until your injury has stabilised, meaning you have either recovered or your doctors can predict any lasting effects. Settling before that point is risky, because once you accept a figure you cannot return for more if your condition worsens. The extra time exists to value the claim accurately rather than quickly.
Even at 11.2 months, the Board is far quicker than the alternative. A contested personal injury case through the courts commonly takes two to four years and costs significantly more. For most people the Board is the faster and cheaper route. That is part of why respondents consented to the process in 70 percent of cases in 2024, the third year running above that mark.[1] If your claim is dragging, our guide to IRB delays and what you can do explains the common causes. Our page on IRB time limits and the clock-stop rule covers how your two year deadline is protected while the Board holds the file.
How the IRB compares to going to court
You tend to receive a similar amount, for far less cost and time. This is the finding most guides leave out. The Central Bank's National Claims Information Database has repeatedly shown that awards through the Board are broadly in line with what people recover through litigation, yet the costs are not remotely similar. For employer and public liability claims in 2024, legal costs averaged about 25,055 euro for litigated cases, almost matching the compensation itself, against roughly 694 euro for cases resolved through the Board.[9]
| Measure | Through the IRB | Through litigation |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Broadly comparable | Broadly comparable |
| Average legal costs (2024, EL and PL) | About 694 euro | About 25,055 euro |
| Typical time to resolve | Around 11 months | Two to four years |
The practical takeaway is simple. Two people with similar injuries can end up with similar compensation. One route costs a few hundred euro and finishes in months, while the other runs to tens of thousands in legal fees and takes years. That is why the Board, and a realistic view of any assessment it offers, is usually worth taking seriously before reaching for court. It is also why the cost risk of rejecting an assessment, covered further down, matters so much. Figures are from the Central Bank National Claims Information Database for 2024 and vary by claim type and value.
Assessment or mediation: the two routes through the Board
A claim can be resolved by assessment or by mediation. Since the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022, those are the two routes, and mediation has been available for motor claims since December 2024.[4] Both routes end in a binding result, but they work very differently, and many claimants do not realise mediation is an option at all. Uptake is still modest, with roughly a third of claimants opting in, yet mediated claims often settle in about three months against the 11.2 month average for assessment.
| Feature | Assessment | Mediation |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | The Board values the claim and issues a figure | An impartial mediator helps both sides agree a figure |
| Consent needed | Respondent consents to the Board assessing | Both sides must agree to mediate |
| Format | Paper based, no meeting | Usually conducted by telephone, so the parties never meet face to face |
| Typical timing | Around 11 months on average in 2024 | Often resolved in under three months where successful |
| Result | An assessment you accept or reject | A written agreement with a 10 day cooling-off period before it becomes binding |
Mediation is entirely voluntary and confidential. It cannot go ahead unless both the claimant and the respondent agree, and anything discussed cannot later be used in an assessment or in court if mediation fails. If the parties reach agreement, a written settlement is circulated for signature and a 10 day cooling-off period begins, during which either side can withdraw. If neither side withdraws, the agreement hardens into an Order to Pay with the same force as a court order. Mediation can also help where liability is disputed, because a mediator can discuss fault in a way the assessment track cannot.
The early steps that decide your claim
Three early steps decide most of a claim's outcome. Most claims that run into trouble do so at the very start, and getting these right protects both your deadline and the value of your claim.
First, the Section 8 notice. Under Section 8 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, as tightened in 2019, you must notify the person you hold responsible, the respondent, within one month of the accident.[10] The letter has to name the right party and set out the wrong alleged. A common and costly mistake is addressing it to a trading name rather than the correct registered company, which can make the notice invalid. The detail is on our page explaining the Section 8 letter.
Second, a complete application. You apply on Form A and pay a 45 euro fee online, or 90 euro by post. Since September 2023 you must give your PPSN so the Board can verify your identity, and an incomplete application does not stop your two year clock. A medical report is needed to ground the claim. Our walkthrough of how to apply to the Injuries Resolution Board sets out the sequence, and the documents you need for an IRB application are listed in one place.
Third, the medical evidence. The quality of the medical report shapes the value the Board places on your injury. The Board also arranges its own independent medical examination as part of assessing the claim. How that examination differs from your own doctor's report is covered in our guide to the IRB medical report.
Once your application is registered, the Board notifies the person responsible and gives them 90 days to decide whether to let the Board assess the claim. If they agree, the assessment goes ahead. If they refuse, or simply do not reply within the 90 days, the Board issues an authorisation that lets you take the claim to court instead.[3] Agreeing to an assessment is not an admission of liability, so a respondent can consent without accepting fault. This consent step is one of the most predictable parts of the process, and most motor and employer respondents agree because the Board is faster and cheaper than litigation.
What the Board awards and how it is calculated
Compensation follows the Personal Injuries Guidelines. These set out award ranges for every type of injury and cap the most serious cases at about 550,000 euro. They were adopted in 2021 and replaced the older Book of Quantum. They are an Irish framework set by the Judicial Council. They are not the same as the Judicial College Guidelines used in the United Kingdom. A figure quoted for a similar injury in England or Wales is therefore not a reliable guide to an Irish award. An award has two parts. General damages cover the pain and the effect on your life. Special damages cover measurable financial losses such as lost earnings, medical bills, and travel costs.
The 16.7 percent increase has not come into force. You may have read that injury awards in Ireland rose by almost 17 percent. As of June 2026 that is not correct. The Judicial Council approved a 16.7 percent uplift in January 2025, which would have raised the ceiling to roughly 642,000 euro. However, the Supreme Court decision in Delaney v Personal Injuries Assessment Board [2024] IESC 10 changed how the Guidelines can be altered. Any change now needs the approval of the Oireachtas, and the Minister for Justice chose not to bring that approval forward. The 550,000 euro ceiling and the 2021 figures therefore still apply.[7] The Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2026, which went through pre-legislative scrutiny in February 2026, would change how the Guidelines are reviewed in future, including a move to a five year review cycle.[8]
The actual figures show modest, stable awards rather than the large sums people sometimes expect. In 2024 the median award across all categories was 13,100 euro and the average was 18,967 euro. The highest single award that year was 592,225 euro, for a workplace claim involving very serious injuries.[1] The latest figures, from the first half of 2025, show the median edging up to 13,300 euro, continuing a gentle upward trend since 2023.[2]
How multiple injuries are valued
A frequent misunderstanding is that multiple injuries are simply added together. They are not. The Board identifies your most significant injury and values it within its Guidelines range. It then applies a proportionate uplift to reflect the additional injuries, so the total stays fair rather than stacking each figure on top of the last. For worked examples of how a figure is built, see how IRB compensation is assessed, and for the ceiling itself see the 550,000 euro general damages cap. The framework as a whole is explained in our overview of the Personal Injuries Guidelines.
After the Board decides: accept, reject, or authorisation
You can accept the assessment or reject it. Once the Board values your claim, that single decision is one of the most important in the whole process. You have 28 days to decide, and the respondent has 21 days.[3] If both sides accept, the Board issues an Order to Pay, which is legally binding and carries the same weight as a court order. There is no further negotiation of the figure once you accept, so it pays to understand the value before you say yes. If you do reject and the case later goes to court, the Board's figure is not disclosed to the judge, so the earlier assessment does not prejudice either side.
Rejecting carries a real financial risk that is easy to miss. Under section 51A of the legislation, the Board figure works like a formal offer once the respondent accepts it.[5] Say you reject that assessment and go to court. If the court then awards you the same amount or less, you may not recover your legal costs, and you could be ordered to pay some of the other side's costs. This is why the accept or reject decision deserves careful thought, set out in full on our page about accepting or rejecting an IRB assessment.
Where the Board does not assess a claim, usually because liability is disputed or a party does not consent, it issues an authorisation. An authorisation is often misunderstood. It does not mean you have won. It is simply permission to bring court proceedings, because the Board has stepped aside. What happens next, and the time limits that apply once you have it, are covered in what happens after IRB authorisation.
Disputed liability often involves contributory negligence, and it is worth understanding the term. Under section 34 of the Civil Liability Act 1961, your compensation can be reduced if you were partly responsible for your own injury.[11] Common examples are not wearing a seatbelt or ignoring a clear warning sign. The Board does not decide fault or set any such percentage. That question is resolved either in court or, increasingly, through mediation, where a mediator can help both sides agree a reduction without a full court case. So a partial-fault argument does not end your claim, it affects how the final figure is reached.
When professional help is worth it for an IRB claim
You do not need a solicitor to use the Board. Many people complete an application and accept a fair assessment without ever instructing one, and the process is designed to be accessible. It is worth being honest about that.
That said, certain moments carry more weight than others, and advice can make a real difference at them. The value of experienced guidance is highest in four situations. These are a genuinely disputed liability, injuries that are serious or slow to settle, complex medical evidence, or a decision between accepting an assessment and risking the cost of court. A solicitor can also help make sure the Section 8 notice names the right party and that the application is complete, two early errors that cause later problems. The aim is to help you make an informed decision, not to push you toward one.
Request a no-obligation case assessment with Gary Matthews Solicitors. We will talk through where your claim stands and what your options are.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Injuries Resolution Board the same as PIAB?
Yes. PIAB was renamed the Injuries Resolution Board on 14 December 2023.
The change came with the Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022, which also gave the Board new powers to offer mediation and to assess wholly psychological injuries. It is the same organisation with a broader role, so older references to PIAB and to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board mean the body now called the IRB.
Do I have to go through the Injuries Resolution Board?
For most personal injury claims, yes. Medical negligence is the main exception.
Road traffic, workplace, and public liability claims must be submitted to the Board before you can issue court proceedings. Medical negligence claims go directly to litigation because they rely on detailed expert evidence about the standard of medical care.
How long does an IRB assessment take?
The average in 2024 was 11.2 months, against a 9 month statutory target.
Just over half of awards were issued within 9 months. The wait largely reflects the need to let your injury stabilise before the Board values it. Even so, the Board is much faster than a contested court case, which often takes two to four years.
Did Irish personal injury awards increase by 16.7 percent?
No. As of June 2026 the proposed 16.7 percent increase has not come into force.
The Judicial Council approved the uplift in January 2025. After the Supreme Court decision in Delaney v Personal Injuries Assessment Board, changes to the Guidelines now need Oireachtas approval, which has not been given. The 550,000 euro ceiling and the 2021 ranges still apply.
Do I need a solicitor for an Injuries Resolution Board claim?
No, you can apply to the Board yourself. Many people do.
Advice tends to matter most where liability is disputed, the injuries are serious, or you are deciding whether to accept an assessment or risk going to court. You are free to instruct a solicitor at any stage or to proceed on your own.
What happens if I reject the Board's assessment?
You can take the claim to court, but there is a cost risk under section 51A.
If you reject an assessment the respondent was willing to accept and the court later awards you the same or less, two things can follow. You may not recover your legal costs, and you could be ordered to pay some of the other side's costs. You have 28 days to make this decision. It is worth careful thought, which is why we cover it in detail on the accept or reject page.
Does the two year time limit stop while the Board has my claim?
Yes. The limitation clock pauses while a valid application is with the Board.
The standard limit is two years from the date of the accident or the date of knowledge. Section 50 of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003 pauses that clock while a valid application is with the Board, and it resumes, with a short window, once an authorisation issues.[5] The detail is on our time limits page.
What is IRB mediation and how does it differ from assessment?
Mediation is a voluntary route where a neutral mediator helps both sides agree a figure.
It differs from assessment, where the Board sets the figure itself. Mediation needs both parties to agree, is usually conducted by telephone, and can resolve a claim in under three months. Any agreement carries a 10 day cooling-off period before it becomes binding.
How soon must I notify the person responsible for my injury?
Within one month of the accident, under Section 8 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004.
This notice has to name the correct party and set out the wrong alleged. Missing the deadline or naming the wrong party can weaken your position later, so the notice is worth getting right at the outset.
How much does it cost to apply to the Injuries Resolution Board?
The application fee is 45 euro online, or 90 euro by post.
You will usually also pay for the medical report that grounds your claim, though that cost can be recovered as part of an award. Using the Board avoids the much higher legal costs of a contested court case.
References
- Injuries Resolution Board, Annual Report 2024 (published July 2025).
- Injuries Resolution Board, Personal Injuries Award Values Report H1 2025 (reports index).
- Citizens Information, Injuries Resolution Board (updated 2026).
- Injuries Resolution Board, Mediation.
- Law Reform Commission, Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003, as amended.
- Irish Statute Book, Personal Injuries Resolution Board Act 2022.
- Judicial Council, Personal Injuries Guidelines (2021).
- Houses of the Oireachtas, Report on Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill (February 2026).
- Central Bank of Ireland, National Claims Information Database (NCID) (2024).
- Law Reform Commission, Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004, Section 8.
- Law Reform Commission, Civil Liability Act 1961, Section 34.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different and outcomes vary. Compensation figures are drawn from published Injuries Resolution Board reports, are correct as of June 2026, and are assessed case by case under the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Gary Matthews Solicitors
Medical negligence solicitors, Dublin
We help people every day of the week (weekends and bank holidays included) that have either been injured or harmed as a result of an accident or have suffered from negligence or malpractice.
Contact us at our Dublin office to get started with your claim today
