Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Mar 1994

Vol. 439 No. 5

Written Answers. - Tribunal Awards.

Noel Ahern

Question:

86 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice the allocation that has been made to the criminal injuries tribunal in 1994 for payments of awards, if, in view of the delay in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9, which was finalised in July 1993 after eight years of processing interest will be paid on the award made in this instance because of the delay; and if she will make a statement on the general operation of the tribunal and the delays at each stage.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

A sum of £1 million has been provided in the 1994 Estimates in respect of the scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminal inflicted. There is no provision in the scheme, under which the tribunal operates, for payment of interest on awards of compensation made under the scheme. Awards are paid as quickly as possible within the limited Exchequer resources available.

With regard to delays, I am informed by the tribunal that, in the absence of any special circumstances giving rise to delay, applications being lodged with the tribunal at present are likely to be determined by a single member within 12 months of the date of lodgment. In the event of an appeal by the applicant, the waiting period for an appeal hearing is 18 to 24 months approximately. Awards of compensation currently being paid were accepted 16 to 19 months ago.

I am also informed by the tribunal that, while longer delays occurred in the case of some applications lodged in the past due to the large volume of applications made in the period 1980 to 1986, such delays are not of the order suggested by the Deputy except where factors outside the control of the tribunal are involved. Such factors are: failure or delay on the part of the applicants or their legal representatives to provide the tribunal with the necessary evidence to support the claims or to agree dates for hearing of appeals; the need for the tribunal to await the resolution of associated criminal and-or civil actions; the complexity of the injuries sustained giving rise to prolonged delays in the preparation and submission of final medical reports.

As these cases are disposed of, pressure on the tribunal will ease and improvement can be expected in the time taken to deal with current cases.