asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, indicating the number of cases submitted in each of the last three years for which figures are available and the amount of compensation awarded for each of the last three years, for which figures are available; and the number of cases now pending.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
5.
In the years 1983, 1984 and 1985, the number of applications submitted to the tribunal was 1,417, 1,760 and 1,945. The amount of compensation awarded was £3,490,225 in 1983, £2,333,095 in 1984 and £3,977,333 in 1985. The number of applications pending at 31 December 1985 was 3,894.
The figures I have quoted for 1983 and 1984 are final figures, but those for 1985 are provisional.
I thank the Minister for the information he has given us, but when is it intended to publish the reports for these years? We are now in 1986 and it is a fairly simple report that is presented and laid before the House. When does the Minister intend to make these reports available? It would appear that they have been suppressed; at least that seems to be the case.
That seems to be argument.
It is argument. I remind Deputy Woods that I answered that question on 19 March last, Question No. 197.
I heard they were held aside.
I will not put up with that kind of badgering from Deputy Woods and the allegation that they have been suppressed.
The Minister will have to put up with it. It is opposition. I am entitled to put a question.
I said that I answered that question on 19 March. I observed at that point that the 1984 report was submitted in January 1986, and would be submitted shortly, with the others still outstanding.
Is it the position now that they will be presented shortly again, and when will the 1985 report be available? After all, it is not a very big undertaking. The Minister must recognise that he savagely cut the scheme on 1 April.
We cannot have argument.
The reports are very relevant to the debate in relation to the cutbacks he made on 1 April. It is just not acceptable that the Minister should hold these reports back at this time and cut back the awards for pain and suffering from 1 April. Members of the House have a right to know what is going on and the Minister should make those reports available.
Before the Deputy gets himself into a terrible wax altogether, I will answer the only bit of that long statement that was a question and say that the time when they will be published will now be even more shortly than it was on 19 March.
Has the Minister the estimated figure for 1986 that has been provided for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board?
The provision in the Estimates for 1986 is £2.667 million.
The Minister did not want to answer that.