asked the Minister for Justice, in view of the increasing incidence of personal assaults and violence with crime and of the recent establishment of the voluntary victim support scheme, the reason he has reduced the provision for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal by a third in the Estimates for 1986.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation.
21.
(Limerick East): The amount to be provided for any service in the Estimates for any year is decided on the basis of the requirements of the particular service, the requirements for other services and the overall budgetary position. Having regard to these considerations it has been decided that the appropriate provision for awards under the scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted for 1986 is £2,667,000.
As was stated in the national plan, Building on Reality 1985-1987, the scheme is proving very costly for the Exchequer. Following a review of the scheme, the Government have sanctioned changes in the conditions of the scheme, which I will announce shortly.
Can the Minister tell us when he proposes to bring these changes into operation?
(Limerick East): I will bring them into operation in 1986 and I will announce them shortly.
I take it that on this basis the Minister envisages a reduction in the cost in 1986. Will he agree that in this area in particular it is surprising to find a reduction in the allocation for this year because of the great increase in the number of personal assaults on individuals? One of the features of our crime statistics is that personal assaults and injuries are increasing. Will the Minister agree that it is more than likely that the requirement to meet these costs would be fairly similar to what it was in the last year, or maybe marginally lower if we are fortunate?
(Limerick East): The Estimates figure is based on the requirement of the particular service as modified by the Government decision but also on the requirement of other services in the overall budgetary position. On the question of the increase in crime, the Deputy is aware that crime came down again last year, as it did the year before.
Will the Minister not consider it quite extraordinary that he should be proposing at present in the Estimates the provision of £10,000 extra for the year for a voluntary victim support scheme to aid the victims of this kind of personal injury but that at the same time, he is taking £1.3 million away from the people who will be injured? They are going to be disadvantaged in this year, given the fact that the only outcome of this scheme which he is proposing must be to reduce the total amount of money available and the money paid to each individual.
(Limerick East): The two schemes are not comparable. The scheme to which the Estimate figure refers is in the nature of civil damages being awarded by the State for injury to people who have been the victims of crime. The other figure of £10,000 is the commencement of a new scheme where psychological and emotional support can be given by members of the community acting voluntarily to support victims of crime.
Does it not seem that the State is proposing to welch on its responsibility to the people who are victims of crime? I know that we will have to wait to see the Minister's proposals for the detail, but as far as the money is concerned the allocation shows that the Minister is reducing the money for this area by £1.3 million, which is 33 per cent of the total cost.
(Limerick East): Allocations over the years have been uneven. In 1980, it was £1 million; in 1981, it was £1.75 million; in 1982, it was £2.65 million; in 1983, it was £3.5 million; in 1984, it was £2 million; in 1985, it was £4 million; and in 1986 it is £2.667 million.