Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
245. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has satisfied himself with the operation of the Garda compensation scheme; if his attention has been drawn to delays in payment of amounts awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41657/17]
View answerThe Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts, 1941 and 1945 provide for a scheme of compensation for members of An Garda Síochána who are maliciously injured in the course of their duty or in relation to the performance of their duties as members of An Garda Síochána and for the dependants of members who have died from injuries maliciously inflicted on them.
Under the current scheme awards are made by the High Court. The reliance on an adversarial approach to determine awards is costly and applicants can wait several years before they are awarded compensation.
I wish to advise the Deputy that compensation awards are paid from the Garda Vote. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for An Garda Síochána and is responsible for the Garda Vote and I, as Minister, have no role in this regard. I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that compensation awards are processed within seven to ten working days.
There has been a shared view for some time that the existing scheme needs to be replaced with a more efficient process. I wish to inform the Deputy that the Government has approved the drafting of the Garda Síochána Compensation Bill 2017 based on the General Scheme of the Bill which is available on my Department's website: www.justice.ie. The Bill is intended to establish a more effective compensation scheme that will deal with compensation claims for malicious injuries in an efficient manner and to the satisfaction of all parties.
