State faces flood of asbestos claims

THE State is facing an avalanche of claims from workers who claim they were exposed to asbestos, it has been revealed.

Almost one-third of the 1,000 personal injury claims facing the State are asbestos related and could cost taxpayers tens of millions of euro.

The majority of claims are from employees of Government bodies or State agencies who say they are suffering trauma as a result of exposure to asbestos.