54 Mrs. Fennell asked the Minister for Education if he will outline (a) the number of public liability claims which were made against his Department in each of the years between 1989 and 1991 and (b) the amount paid out in each of these years.

Public liability claims in the education sector are made against the management authorities of the schools or institutions concerned and are met from the public liability insurance taken out by those authorities.

In the case of community and comprehensive schools and special residential schools the State indemnifies boards of management against such claims. Details of the claims made in this sector in the years referred to are as follows: