Compensation paid to Vibration White Finger sufferers has passed the half-a-billion pounds mark.
Energy Minister Brian Wilson said the Government was encouraged by the progress being made towards tackling claims for the disease.
He announced that more than 3,000 offers to VWF claimants were made last month totalling £27.2m.
As at March 31, more than £100m has been paid out in the North-East, around a fifth of the national total.
More than 20,000 claims for VWF in the region have been received to date.
The disease is caused by vibrating power tools used in the mining industry.
Sufferers lose the sensation in fingers, hands and arms often making it difficult to carry out even simple household tasks.
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