More than €43m was paid out in insurance claims on behalf of 28 local authorities in the first nine months of this year.

It is a big increase on 2018, when nearly €47m was settled in the entire year.

Local authorities are insured by Irish Public Bodies, which deals with claims for issues such as slips and trips on footpaths and damage to cars caused by potholes.

According to details released under the Freedom of Information Act, €43.3m worth of claims were settled on behalf of 28 of the 31 local authorities in Ireland in the first nine months of this year.

3,315 claims were finalised with the average pay-out being €13,061.

The highest number relate to Dublin City Council, with €7.5m worth of settlements.

Limerick City and County Council is next, at €3.6m followed by Cork City Council, at nearly €3.5m, including legal fees.

12 councils settled more, money-wise, in the first three quarters of 2019 than in all last year.

The councils with the top settlements this year:

Local authority Settlements in 2019 (as of Q3) Settlements in all of 2018

Dublin City Council €7.5m (796 claims) €9.05m (780 claims)

Limerick C&C Council €3.6m (195 claims) €3.7m (254 claims)

Cork City Council €3.47m* (159 claims) €4.39m* (248claims)

Galway County Council €3.37m (107 claims) €1.6m (250 claims)

Tipperary County Council €2.8m (195 claims) €2.6m (275 claims)

Wexford County Council €2.36m (85 claims) €1.13m (120claims)

Mayo County Council €2.27m (85 claims)€951,016 (148 claims)

Wicklow County Council €2.178m (85 claims) €2.98m (100 claims)

South Dublin CC€2.158m (159claims) €2.05m (187 claims)

Waterford C&C Council €1.78m (127claims) €2.89m (162 claims)

*includes legal fees