Employers' liability insurance in Ireland
Employers' liability insurance covers compensation and legal costs if one of your staff is injured or falls ill because of their work. In Ireland it is not compulsory, and there is no equivalent of the UK's 1969 Act. But every employer owes a duty of care, so most Irish businesses carry it. DigiCare Insurance is an independent broker, regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. We compare employers' liability cover from a panel of Irish insurers and match the indemnity limit your contract needs.
Reviewed by the DigiCare broking team · Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland · Last reviewed July 2026
- Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland
- Independent broker, multiple Irish insurers
- Cover from €1.3m up to €13m
- Often bundled with public liability
Is employers' liability insurance compulsory in Ireland?
No. As of 2026, employers' liability insurance is not compulsory in Ireland. There is no equivalent of the UK's Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. But every employer owes a statutory duty of care under section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, so far as is reasonably practicable, which makes cover a practical necessity.
If a worker is injured or becomes ill because of unsafe work and you are found liable, the compensation and legal costs fall on your business. Employers' liability insurance is the standard way Irish businesses meet that exposure. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) enforces workplace safety law, and many main contractors and public tenders require proof of cover before they let you on site.
Alongside the 2005 Act, Irish common law requires every employer to provide
- A safe place of work
- A safe system of work
- Competent, properly trained staff
- Proper equipment, training and supervision
Last reviewed: July 2026 · Sources: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, s.8 (irishstatutebook.ie); citizensinformation.ie
What employers' liability insurance covers (and excludes)
Employers' liability insurance pays compensation and legal defence costs when you are held liable for a work-related injury or illness suffered by someone who works for you. Here is what a standard Irish policy covers, and what it leaves out. Occupational disease is a defining employers' liability risk — a claim can arrive years after the exposure, which is why keeping cover in place over time matters.
| What's covered | What's not covered |
|---|---|
| Compensation and damages awarded for an employee's work-related injury, illness or death | Road traffic accidents involving your vehicles, which are covered by motor insurance, not employers' liability |
| Legal defence costs, and the claimant's costs, where you are found liable | Injuries to staff working outside Ireland or the EU, unless the policy is extended |
| Occupational disease that appears years later, such as repetitive strain injury, noise-induced hearing loss, work-related stress and respiratory illness | Deliberate or dishonest acts |
| Proceedings arising from an alleged breach of health and safety law (policy-dependent) | Claims that fall outside the policy period; cover must be in force before staff are engaged |
| Directors, managers and employees named in such proceedings (policy-dependent) | — |
Who needs it, and who's covered
Any business with employees has an employers' liability exposure, whether you have one part-time assistant or a full site crew. It is usually reviewed alongside public liability insurance at renewal.
- 01Businesses with staffCafés, shops, salons, offices, agencies, any employer with one or more employees
- 02Construction and tradesBuilders, electricians and plumbers, where main contractors and public tenders often make cover contractually required before site access
- 03Growing SMEsOwners reviewing all their cover at renewal, usually bundling public and employers' liability
Who the policy covers
- Employees, full-time and part-time
- Apprentices, trainees and people on work experience
- Agency workers and temporary staff under your direction
- Labour-only subcontractors working under your control
- Volunteers (policy-dependent)
Public liability vs employers' liability insurance
Public liability covers injury or property damage you cause to third parties, such as customers or the public. Employers' liability covers injury or illness suffered by your own employees. Neither is compulsory by statute in Ireland, but most businesses with staff need both, and they are usually bought together in one commercial policy. Learn more about public liability insurance in Ireland.
| Public liability | Employers' liability | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it protects | Third parties: customers, clients and the public | Your own employees |
| What it covers | Injury or property damage you cause to others | Work-related injury, illness or disease suffered by staff |
| Compulsory in Ireland? | No, but often required by contracts and premises leases | No statutory mandate, but you owe staff a duty of care |
| Typical buyer | Any business with customer or public contact | Any business that employs people |
How much does employers' liability insurance cost in Ireland?
As of 2026, employers' liability insurance in Ireland starts from around €150 per year for a low-risk clerical or office business, and rises into the thousands for higher-risk sectors such as construction. There is no single price. What you pay depends on your wage roll, number of employees, business sector and claims history, so a tailored quote is the only reliable figure. Get a quote and we will price it for you.
Low-risk clerical or office
Annuallyfrom around €150 per yearSmall offices, shops and agencies with a handful of staff
Higher-risk sectors
Annuallyinto the thousands per yearConstruction, manufacturing and farming, where injury risk is greater
Public + employers' liability bundle
Annuallyquoted as one combined premiumEmployers' liability is rarely bought alone in Ireland; it is usually packaged with public liability
What moves the price
- Your total wage roll and salaries
- The number of employees you have
- Your business sector and its injury risk
- Your previous claims history
- Your chosen excess, the amount you pay towards each claim
Sources: Irish insurer and broker price ranges, retrieved July 2026
Last reviewed: July 2026
How much cover do you need?
Employers' liability cover in Ireland is usually written with an indemnity limit between €1.3 million and €13 million. The €13 million limit is the common market standard, with €1.3 million as the typical floor. The right limit depends on your workforce and on any minimum a contract sets.
- 1
€1.3 million
The typical floor, for very small, low-risk employers
- 2
€6.5 million
A common mid-tier limit for growing SMEs
- 3
€13 million
The standard market limit, and what many contracts expect
Contract-mandated minimumsConstruction and public contracts often specify a minimum indemnity limit and require employers' liability to be in place before you can start on site.
Aggregate vs any-one-claim: Check whether your limit applies to any one claim or as an aggregate across the year; your broker can confirm which applies to your policy.
How employers' liability claims work in Ireland
If an employee is injured or becomes ill through work and makes a claim, here is how it usually runs in Ireland. Occupational-disease claims can arrive years after the exposure.
- 1
The claim is lodged
The injured worker brings a claim, which is first sent to the Injuries Resolution Board (formerly PIAB) for assessment
- 2
Assessment
The Injuries Resolution Board assesses the claim against the Personal Injuries Guidelines, which set award levels
- 3
Your insurer takes over
Under your policy the insurer conducts the claim, handles negotiations and pays compensation and defence costs up to your limit
- 4
Litigation, if needed
If the claim is not resolved at assessment, it can proceed to court
Chapter VI
Employers' liability insurance FAQs
- Is employers' liability insurance compulsory in Ireland?
- No. Ireland has no equivalent of the UK's Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, so employers' liability insurance is not required by statute. But under section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 you owe employees a duty of care, which makes cover a practical necessity.
- Is employers' liability insurance expensive in Ireland?
- Not for most small businesses. Premiums start from around €150 per year for a low-risk clerical business and rise into the thousands for higher-risk sectors such as construction. The cost depends on your wage roll, number of employees, sector and claims history, so a tailored quote gives the surest figure.
- What is the difference between public liability and employers' liability insurance?
- Public liability covers injury or property damage to third parties such as customers or the public. Employers' liability covers injury or illness to your own employees. Most Irish businesses with staff need both, and they are usually bought together. See our public liability insurance page.
- Are volunteers and agency workers covered?
- A standard policy covers employees, apprentices, trainees, people on work experience, and agency or labour-only workers under your direction. Volunteers can be covered too, but this is policy-dependent, so tell your broker if volunteers help out in your business.
- Does employers' liability insurance cover occupational disease?
- Yes. Employers' liability insurance covers occupational disease that develops through work, such as repetitive strain injury, noise-induced hearing loss, respiratory illness and work-related stress. These claims can appear years after the exposure, which is why keeping cover in place over time matters.
Get an employers' liability insurance quote
Tell us your sector and how many people you employ. As an independent broker regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, DigiCare Insurance compares employers' liability cover from a panel of Irish insurers, and can bundle it with public liability in one policy.
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