Over 50k paid to motorists in pothole compensation by local authority in 2024
Louise Walsh
The number of successful claims by motorists to one local authority for damage caused to their cars by potholes has trebled in the last five years.
The number of people paid compensation by Meath County Council has risen to 218 last year, up from 80 who sought recompense from damaged tyres and wheels in 2020.
In 2024 alone, the council forked out €55,239 with almost half of those claims in the second quarter of the year, according to figures from the council.
In 2023, the figure was €42, 926 reimbursed to 186 motorists who sought redress through the IPB insurance which covers local authorities nationwide.
The 2024 figure is just less than the total of €59,598 to 250 claims in the years from 2020 to 2022.
Meath County Council said that in 2020, they settled 80 claims of damage to cars from motor damage, amounting to €16.938. In 2021, that figure rose to paying out €24,607 for 105 claims and last year, 65 claims amounted to a payment of €18, 053
More motorists are now encouraging other drivers to send in their claims to the IPB, claiming that the process is easy and undaunting.
Jana Kearney was successfully reimbursed twice by the council after she hit two different potholes on the same stretch of road at Donaghpatrick and Tatestown, Navan on separate occasions while driving her children to school last year.
"I was pregnant at the time and so I was upset when I hit the pothole while on the school run the first time," said Jana.
"It was very stressful. I had the kids in the car and there was another vehicle coming towards me so I had nowhere to go. I couldn't avoid hitting it.
"Luckily, I was able to drive the car to a friend Noel Flanagan who has a garage on the Kells Road and he put the spare wheel on until I could get a new tyre fitted. Then a few months later, I hit a different pothole and destroyed another tyre," said the mum of four.
"I have to say though, the people I talked to in Meath County Council were so lovely to me. They told me where to go to put in a claim and made sure to come out quickly and repair the potholes.
"I had to wait only two weeks to get reimbursed the first time and a few months the second time. The tyres cost €115 and they were only new at the time so I got all of the money back.
"I know some people don't know that they can make a claim for damage while others think it is a really hard process to put in a claim but I found it very easy and everyone was so helpful to me."
Driving instructor Andy McGuinniety also received €100 from the council after his tyre was destroyed when he struck a pothole near Navan while bringing a student on a driving lesson in recent years.
He highlighted the recourse system for many drivers who may be able to claim for damage from potholes - once a previous attempt has been made by the council to repair the road.
"The pothole was directly on the wheel line and the tyre blew straight away, it was so deep. It was also the student's first driving lesson but thankfully, she took it in her stride and no-one was injured which was the main thing," said Andy who runs iDrive Ireland School of Motoring , near Slane.
"I got out and changed the tyre and then I took a load of photographs of the pothole and the car, the direction we were travelling and the tyre. I noticed some tar around the pothole which meant the council had tried to repair it.
"I rang Meath County Council and they gave me a number for the Irish Public Body Insurance and I called them. By the time I got off the phone, I had a link to upload photographs and give every detail possible.
"Within a month, the money was in the bank with a payment 'without prejudice' . My tyre cost €110 euro and I got €93.50 back after they deducted wear and tear which is fair enough.
"I think it is that if the council don't know about the pothole, then it's not their responsibility but if they have tried to repair it previously, then you can claim. Being a driving instructor, I'm on the roads around Meath a lot and if I see a pothole, I try to report it to the council via Twitter and I would encourage all motorists to do the same
"There are a lot of potholes around the place and a lot of tyres getting punctured or destroyed and other damage to cars too. If it happens to you, take loads of pictures and ring the Irish Public Body Insurance to see what they say. They can only say no."
Meath County Council paid out a total of €59,598 to 250 claims in the years from 2020 to 2022.
Meath County Council say that in 2020, they settled 80 claims of damage to cars from motor damage, amounting to €16.938. In 2021, that figure rose to paying out €24,607 for 105 claims and last year, 65 claims amounted to a payment of €18, 053
A statement from Meath County Council reads: "Whilst every effort is made by the Council to repair and maintain roads within the funds allocated for this purpose, the defence of nonfeasance is available in response to an allegation and if successful the Council is not held responsible for damage resulting from normal wear and tear of the road if no intervention or negligent act was carried out by the Council."
