Dublin Corporation has reduced the amount of money set aside in its estimates for public liability compensation claims for the first time in six years, as a result of a new policy under which all such claims are thoroughly investigated.
The city manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, has informed the City Council that the Corporation had successfully defended itself against many claims in 1996 and had also referred a number of cases to the Garda.
A central claims unit has been established and a new risk management strategy adopted. As a result, the amount provided in the estimates for 1997 for public liability claims is £5.6 million, compared to £6 million last year.