asked the Minister for Justice the average delay in the payment of awards by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal from the date of award to the date of payment; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to injured people by the excessive delay in payment; and if he will take steps to clear all the outstanding awards in January 1989 as all the people concerned have both a legal and moral entitlement to the money which they have been awarded.
Written Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation Awards Payment.
46.
The information sought is not available in the form requested by the Deputy. However, the average delay in the payment of awards from the date of acceptance of the awards to the date of issue of cheques is currently of the order of 12 months, i.e. cheques issuing this month relate to awards accepted in October and November 1987.
I am aware that this delay may have caused hardship to some applicants for compensation and I am examining the possibility of providing additional funds to the tribunal.