There's been no increase in the number of personal injury cases coming before the courts.
8,900 claims were dealt with in 2018, with new figures from the Courts Service showing there's been a 19% drop in the total amounts awarded.
The average award for medical negligence cases in the High Court last year was just over €1 million, a reduction of nearly 50% when compared to 2017.
Helen Priestley, Head of Information with the Courts Service says the lower courts have seen some increases in amounts awarded.
