Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 1991

Vol. 404 No. 6

Written Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation.

Michael Bell

Question:

66 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline: (a) the amount of money paid by his Department as administered by the Criminal Injuries Tribunal for each year since 1986, (b) the number of people, (1) male, (2) female and (3) adult and (4) children who were compensated, (c) the levels of compensation paid, (d) if he has any plans to introduce legislation in regard to compensation to victims of violent crimes and (e) if he has any plans to update or change the 1974 scheme as amended in 1986; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Question:

139 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Justice the amount of money paid under the criminal injuries compensation fund in each of the last ten years; and when the changes in this system were made.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 139 together.

The amounts of compensation paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in the last 10 years, are as follows:—

	£
1981	1,815,453.00
1982	2,599,745.00
1983	3,490,224.72
1984	2,333,125.00
1985	3,977,333.00
1986	2,756,136.00
1987	2,606,119.00
1988	5,932,751.89
1989 (provisional)	2,350,000.00
1990 (provisional)	5,977,329.00

The numbers of persons who received compensation in each year since 1986 are:

1986	461
1987	437
1988	1,068
1989 (provisional)	392
1990 (provisional)	673

Statistics are not maintained as to the sex or age of the applicants receiving awards of compensation and such information could not be extracted without the allocation of scarce staff resources to an extent which could not be justified.

The average values of awards made in each of the last five years are:—

	Average awards
	£
1986	5,979
1987	5,964
1988	5,555
1989 (provisional)	5,995
1990 (provisional)	8,882

I have no proposals in regard to legislation to amend the existing scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted.