Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 July 2012
606 Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the payment of an award to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35287/12]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of individual applications under the Scheme and, as an independent Public Body, is also responsible for the administration of the Scheme. However, in order to be of assistance in the matter I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal.
I am informed that, during 2011, the overall amount awarded by the Tribunal in compensation was significantly in excess of the budget for the year and that a payment liability was carried forward to 2012. I am further informed that, as result, some amounts awarded in 2011 are currently being paid during 2012 and that such payments are processed chronologically by date of acceptance of the award.
I understand that the Tribunal has put in place arrangements in respect of payments in order to best manage its resources and to make compensation available in 2012 to the greatest possible number of victims. Arising from these arrangements the payment of awards will proceed on a phased basis in chronological order by date of acceptance during the year. I also understand form the Tribunal that payment of the award referred to by the Deputy will take place during the last quarter of 2012.
While the Tribunal regrets any inconvenience caused by these arrangements to the person referred to by the Deputy, the Tribunal has indicated that the above-mentioned arrangements will in fact allow payment of that person's award to proceed during the current financial year, which would not otherwise be the case.
