If you have suffered a personal injury in Ireland, one of the first questions you are likely to have is: how much compensation could my claim be worth?

It is a question our lawyers are asked almost inevitably on the first phonecall.

The answer depends on a number of factors, including the nature and severity of your injury, how long you take to recover, your financial losses and, importantly, which legal jurisdiction applies to your claim.

Personal injury compensation is assessed differently in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Republic uses the Personal Injuries Guidelines, while Northern Ireland uses the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases in Northern Ireland, commonly known as the Green Book.

For anyone considering a personal injury claim where the accident happened on the island of Ireland, understanding the difference between these systems can be important.

This article explains how personal injury compensation is assessed in the Republic of Ireland, how the current system compares with Northern Ireland, what has changed since the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines, and the legal developments to watch in 2026.

The value of a personal injury claim cannot be determined from an injury description alone. The medical evidence, recovery period, impact on your life, financial losses and the applicable jurisdiction all matter

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Personal injury compensation in Ireland: the current position

 

The Republic of Ireland’s current system is based on the Personal Injuries Guidelines, which were adopted by the Judicial Council in 2021 and came into effect on 24 April 2021.

They replaced the previous Book of Quantum for claims falling within the new regime.

The Guidelines provide ranges for general damages for different injuries and are used by both the Injuries Resolution Board and the courts when assessing compensation. The Injuries Resolution Board confirms that the 2021 Guidelines remain the current Guidelines and that the later draft amendments have not yet become legally effective.

The Guidelines are intended to promote greater consistency in the assessment of personal injury claims. They are not, however, a guarantee of what an individual claimant will receive.

Every injury is different.

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What are the Personal Injuries Guidelines?

 

The Personal Injuries Guidelines provide guidance on the level of general damages that may be awarded for different categories of personal injury.

General damages compensate for matters such as pain, suffering and the effects of the injury.

They do not, however, cover every financial consequence of an accident.

An individual may also have special damages, which can include financial losses and expenses arising from the injury, such as medical expenses and loss of earnings. The Injuries Resolution Board distinguishes these financial losses from the compensation awarded for the injury itself.

This is why two people with apparently similar injuries can have very different overall claims.

How much compensation is available for a personal injury in Ireland?

 

The value of a personal injury claim depends on the injury and the circumstances of the individual case.

There has been a fairly significant reduction in compensation for many minor and moderate injuries in the Republic of Ireland following the introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines , particularly for relatively short-term soft tissue injuries.

Minor neck and whiplash injuries

Under the Personal Injuries Guidelines, the indicative ranges for minor neck injuries include:

• Recovery within 6 months: €500 – €3,000
• Recovery within 6 months to 1 year: €3,000 – €6,000
• Recovery within 1–2 years: €6,000 – €12,000

Minor back injuries

For minor back injuries, the corresponding ranges include:

• Recovery within 6 months: €500 – €3,000
• Recovery within 6 months to 1 year: €3,000 – €6,000
• Recovery within 1–2 years: €6,000 – €12,000
• Recovery within 2–5 years: €12,000 – €20,000

These figures illustrate an important feature of our system namely that the duration and severity of the injury are highly relevant to valuation.

They should not be treated as a compensation calculator or as a prediction of the value of an individual claim.

Medical evidence is central to determining where an injury falls within the applicable guidelines.

What happened to the old Book of Quantum?

 

Before the Personal Injuries Guidelines came into effect, personal injury compensation in the Republic of Ireland was generally assessed by reference to the Book of Quantum.

The introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines in 2021 represented a substantial change.

For minor and moderate soft tissue injuries, the figures under the new system were significantly lower than the figures that had appeared in the Book of Quantum and it was the subject of a number of Appeals.  Our office previously wrote about those significant Appeals.

For example, the previous Book of Quantum provided figures of up to €19,400 for a minor neck injury where full recovery was expected. Under the Personal Injuries Guidelines, a minor neck injury recovering within six months falls within a range of €500 to €3,000.

The change was intended to create greater consistency and reduce the level of awards for less serious injuries.

Personal injury claims and the Injuries Resolution Board

 

For the majority of personal injury claims in the Republic of Ireland, the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) is an important part of the process.

The Board states that personal injury claims generally must be made to it unless the claim has already been settled at an early stage directly with the other party or their insurer.

The Board can assess the value of a claim using the Personal Injuries Guidelines and the evidence supplied.

That evidence can include:

• medical evidence;
• information about the injury and recovery;
• details of financial losses;
• medical expenses;
• loss of earnings; and
• other relevant documentation.

The Board may also arrange an independent medical examination where appropriate.

If both parties accept an assessment, the Board issues an Order to Pay. If an assessment is not accepted, an Authorisation can allow the claimant to proceed with court proceedings.

This makes it important to obtain appropriate legal advice at an early stage, particularly where liability, the severity of an injury or the value of a claim is disputed.

The IRB does not apply to NI claims.

Have personal injury awards in Ireland fallen?

 

The introduction of the Personal Injuries Guidelines had a marked effect on the value of many minor and moderate claims.

The Injuries Resolution Board’s 2025 figures show that the median award for general damages in the second half of 2025 was €12,000. The Board also reported that claim volumes remained substantially below pre-pandemic levels.

The Board’s figures provide useful context, but a median award should not be confused with the likely value of an individual claim.

A claimant with a significant injury, prolonged recovery, ongoing symptoms or substantial financial losses may have a claim worth considerably more.

Are the Personal Injuries Guidelines increasing in 2026?

 

This is one of the most important developments for anyone following personal injury law in Ireland.

A review of the Guidelines resulted in proposed amendments, including a proposed overall increase of 16.7%.

Those amendments have not simply become the law because they were proposed.

The Injuries Resolution Board confirms that the 2021 Guidelines remain the current legally effective Guidelines unless and until amendments are formally adopted and become effective.

There has, however, been further legislative activity in 2026.

In January 2026, the Government published the General Scheme of the Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2026. The proposed legislation is intended to make the process for reviewing and adopting Personal Injuries Guidelines more transparent and to address the mechanism by which future amendments are considered.

Accordingly, anyone dealing with a personal injury claim in Ireland should check the position at the time their claimis being assessed and speak to an experienced Personal Injury Solicitor in Ireland rather than relying on an old compensation table found online.

Personal injury compensation in Northern Ireland

 

Northern Ireland has its own guides for assessing general damages.

The current Sixth Edition of the Green Book was published by the Judiciary of Northern Ireland in April 2024 and Ruaidhri Austin, Partner in Lacey Solicitors and Finalist in the Irish Law Awards 2025 and 2026 published an article on those changed in Irish Legal News. The new edition provides guidance for courts and practitioners when assessing damages in personal injury cases in Northern Ireland.

The Green Book considers matters including:

• the nature and severity of the injury;
• the duration of symptoms;
• recovery;
• the effect of an injury on employment and lifestyle;
• aggravation of pre-existing conditions; and
• other circumstances relevant to the individual claimant.

The Sixth Edition increased many of the recommended figures compared with the previous edition.

Minor neck and whiplash injuries in Northern Ireland

The Sixth Edition includes, for example:

• Recovery within 6–12 months: up to £7,500
• Recovery within 12–24 months: up to £17,500
• Recovery within 2–5 years: up to £37,500

Minor back injuries

The Sixth Edition includes:

• Recovery within 6 months: up to £5,000
• Recovery within 6–24 months: up to £22,500
• Recovery within 2–5 years: £15,000–£37,500

The Green Book is a guideline rather than a strict set of rules. The court considers the individual circumstances and medical evidence in each case.

Ireland and Northern Ireland: why can compensation differ?

 

The difference between the two systems can be significant.

For example, a minor neck injury recovering over approximately two years falls within the upper bracket of €12,000 under the current Irish Personal Injuries Guidelines.

In Northern Ireland, the corresponding 12–24 month Green Book bracket extends to £17,500.

For minor back injuries with a longer recovery period, the difference can also be substantial.

This does not mean that someone injured in the Republic can simply choose to bring their claim in Northern Ireland because the figures may be higher.

Jurisdiction comes first.

Can I claim in Northern Ireland if my accident happened in the Republic of Ireland?

 

Sometimes, but this is a question of jurisdiction rather than simply choosing the system that produces the higher valuation.

The circumstances of the accident, the location of the parties, the defendant’s domicile and the applicable jurisdictional rules all need to be considered.

Brexit has also made cross-border jurisdiction more complicated in some circumstances.

A person injured in the Republic should therefore not assume that a Northern Ireland claim is available simply because a defendant has a connection with Northern Ireland.

Equally, a person living in the Republic who is injured in Northern Ireland may have a legitimate claim within Northern Ireland.

The correct approach is to establish where the claim can properly be brought before considering which compensation guidelines apply.

What is the limitation period for a personal injury claim in Ireland and Northern Ireland?

 

Limitation periods are another important difference between the jurisdictions.

In the Republic of Ireland, the general limitation period for a personal injury claim is two years, subject to the statutory rules and exceptions that may apply to an individual case.

In Northern Ireland, the general limitation period is generally three years, again subject to important exceptions.

Limitation is a technical area of law and the relevant date is not necessarily straightforward in every case.

If you have been injured, you should therefore obtain advice as soon as possible rather than waiting until the limitation period is close to expiring.

Personal injury law in Ireland: further changes in 2026

 

The valuation of injuries is not the only area undergoing change.

The Government published the General Scheme of the Civil Reform Bill in January 2026. Among other proposed reforms, the Bill would increase the monetary jurisdiction of the District Court to €20,000 and the Circuit Court to €100,000, including for personal injury actions.

These are proposed reforms rather than changes that should automatically be treated as the current law.

For anyone bringing or defending a personal injury claim, developments affecting the Injuries Resolution Board, the Personal Injuries Guidelines and the civil courts could have practical consequences for how a claim progresses.

Should I speak to a personal injury solicitor in Ireland?

 

If you have suffered an injury, the value of your claim is only one part of the picture.

A solicitor can help establish:

• whether another party is legally responsible;
• whether the claim is within the relevant limitation period;
• which jurisdiction applies;
• whether the Injuries Resolution Board process applies;
• what medical evidence is required;
• what financial losses can be claimed;
• how your injury should be valued; and
• whether an assessment or settlement properly reflects the evidence.

This can be particularly important in cross-border cases involving the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

At Lacey Solicitors, we advise on personal injury and insurance litigation across the island of Ireland. Our solicitors act for clients in both jurisdictions and deal with road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, public liability claims and other personal injury disputes.

If you are unsure whether you have a personal injury claim, or you want to understand how your injury may be valued, contact Lacey Solicitors for advice on your individual circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How much compensation can I claim for a personal injury in Ireland?

There is no single figure that applies to every personal injury claim. Compensation depends on the type and severity of the injury, recovery period, medical evidence and financial losses. The Personal Injuries Guidelines provide guidance for assessing general damages, but individual claims must be assessed on their own facts.

What is the Personal Injuries Guidelines system in Ireland?

The Personal Injuries Guidelines provide guidance on the level of general damages for different injuries. They are used by the Injuries Resolution Board and the courts when assessing personal injury compensation. The current Guidelines took effect on 24 April 2021.

Can I claim compensation through the Injuries Resolution Board?

Most personal injury claims in the Republic of Ireland must generally be submitted to the Injuries Resolution Board unless they have been resolved directly with the other party or insurer. The Board can assess compensation using the Personal Injuries Guidelines.

Are the Personal Injuries Guidelines changing?

Proposed amendments have been considered, including a proposed 16.7% increase, but those amendments are not currently the operative Guidelines. Further legislative reform is being considered in 2026. The current position should always be checked before relying on compensation figures.

Is personal injury compensation higher in Northern Ireland than Ireland?

For some minor and moderate injuries, the figures in the Northern Ireland Green Book are higher than the equivalent figures in the Republic’s Personal Injuries Guidelines. However, the two systems cannot simply be compared without considering the legal and factual circumstances of the claim.

Can I choose to make my claim in Northern Ireland?

Not simply because the compensation guidelines may be more favourable. Whether proceedings can be brought in Northern Ireland depends on jurisdictional rules and the circumstances of the accident and parties. Cross-border claims should be considered on their individual facts.

How long do I have to make a personal injury claim in Ireland?

The general limitation period for personal injury claims in the Republic of Ireland is two years, while the general period in Northern Ireland is three years. There are exceptions and specific rules that can affect how limitation operates, so early legal advice is recommended.

Do I need a solicitor to make a personal injury claim in Ireland?

The Injuries Resolution Board allows a claimant to submit a claim directly and states that a solicitor is not required for an application. However, legal advice can be important where liability is disputed, the injury is significant, there are substantial financial losses, limitation is an issue, or there are questions about jurisdiction or the appropriate valuation of the claim.

What is the Green Book in Northern Ireland?

The Green Book is the name commonly given to the Judiciary of Northern Ireland’s Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases in Northern Ireland. The Sixth Edition was published in April 2024.

This article is intended as general information and does not constitute legal advice. Personal injury claims depend on their individual facts, medical evidence, financial losses, liability and the law applicable to the particular circumstances. The position can also change as legislation and guidance are amended.