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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Oct 1994

Vol. 445 No. 6

Written Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

204 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Justice the current waiting times for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. [431/94]

I am informed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation 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 lodgement. In the event of an appeal by the applicant, the maximum waiting period for an appeal hearing is 18 months approximately.

I understand that the time taken to make payment varies from case to case and that priority as regards payment is determined by the date of acceptance of the award. In this context, the last persons to have their awards paid accepted those awards in December 1992.

Since I was appointed Minister for Justice I have been conscious of the need to reduce delays in making payments under the scheme. In this regard I indicated, when publishing the policy document entitled "The Management of Offenders — A Five Year Plan", I intended to seek an additional sum of £7.5 million over a period of time to clear arrears of awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. I am taking this matter up with the Minister for Finance in the context of my Department's Estimates for 1995 and subsequent years. Furthermore, as I indicated in my reply to Question No. 43 on 27 April, 1994, if savings arise elsewhere in the Department of Justice Vote and it is possible for me to divert these savings towards the elimination of arrears of compensation, I shall be happy to do so.
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