New Army deafness claims will be fought in the courts without claimants having access to the early settlement scheme, according to a spokesman for the Department of Defence.
Starting almost eight years ago, 16,478 claims have been made, including a number from the FCA.
Some 13,788 have been settled, either by the courts or in the early settlement scheme introduced two years ago.
The Minister for Defence has decided to contest new cases. It is understood that he considers hearing problems arising out of inadequate ear protection years ago should have materialised by now.
There are 2,690 cases still to go to the early settlement scheme, an alternative to High Court proceedings that only requires the claimant to prove the extent of his injury.
Under this scheme the average cost of settlements has dropped from about €40,000 to €10,000.
Legal costs have also been reduced through this scheme. The legal costs of cases that have gone through the courts amount to about 30 per cent of the settlements, and account for €85 million so far. This represents 13,788 cases.
However, when the case goes to early settlement the legal cost is halved.
The whole issue of Army deafness will have cost the Exchequer about €350 million when the last of the current cases are concluded, which is expected in 2004.
The Department has to seek adjournments in the High Court of cases that were listed there before the introduction of the early settlement scheme, but so far these adjournments have always been granted.