Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018

Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Questions (555)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

555. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 133 of 15 November 2017 and 172 of 28 March 2018, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the sensitive documentation (details supplied) that was sent to and confirmed as received by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal has been misplaced; the steps he will take to ensure that these extremely sensitive and personal data are located by the Tribunal, the original copies returned to the owner and that an apology is issued to the individual whose documentation was misplaced and case substantially delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16000/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have made enquiries with the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal in this matter and have been informed that the documentation in question was in fact received by the Tribunal on 22 December 2017.  I am further advised that, at that time, the Tribunal was preparing to move offices and this unfortunately led to the documentation being misfiled with other Tribunal papers.  Subsequent to the Deputy's previous question, the correspondence was located by staff of the Tribunal on 3 April and I am assured by the Tribunal that at all times the documentation was in its possession.  

As all applications to the Tribunal are processed in chronological order by date received, I would like to advise the Deputy that the case has not been disadvantaged by this administrative error. 

I am informed that the Secretary to the Tribunal has written to the individual concerned apologising for any distress caused and for the delay in acknowledging receipt of the papers.  I have requested the Tribunal to return the original copies of the documentation to the applicant.