The projected spending on compensation payments to former soldiers for hearing damage is expected to fall considerably next year, writes Jim Cusack, according to the Department of Defence. The amount provided for compensation payments has been reduced from £70 million this year to £57 million in 2000.
It is understood the reduction has come about because the number of claims and the amounts paid by courts has declined in the past 12 months. There were 2,731 claims for compensation by former soldiers in 1998, and 916 so far this year. The size of awards has fallen from an average of £23,853 in 1997 to £12,097 this year.
The Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, still hopes to introduce a compensation tribunal within the Defence Forces to settle claims out of court.
Elsewhere in the Department of Defence Estimate, there is a £5 million increase for overseas allowances, reflecting the increased numbers of soldiers serving abroad with the UN and on other peacekeeping missions.