asked the Minister for Justice if he proposes to introduce legislation to provide compensation for hit and run victims.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Hit and Run Victims.
2.
I assume that the Deputy's question refers only to hit and run accidents where neither the driver nor owner of the vehicle concerned is subsequently traced or, though traced, is not a mark for damages because he has no funds and is not adequately insured.
As the Deputy may be aware, as a result of an agreement made in 1964 between the Minister for Local Government and the Motor Insurers' Bureau, there is a scheme in operation under which the bureau will assume responsibility for the payment of unsatisfied judgments obtained against users or owners of mechanically propelled vehicles in respect of personal injury or death. The scheme does not extend to cases where the owner or driver of a vehicle cannot be traced, but I understand that, where a person has sustained serious and permanent disablement, or has died as a result of injury sustained in these circumstances and there is, in the view of the bureau, reasonable certainty that the disablement or death was caused by the negligent use of a mechanically propelled vehicle, the bureau will, at their discretion, give sympathetic consideration to making some ex gratia payment.
Any question of extending the existing arrangements would be a matter for the Minister for the Environment.
The Minister says that, as he would see it, any further action would fall to the Minister for the Environment. Is the Minister aware that legislation in other EEC states gives some recourse to the victim in such an accident? Is the Minister aware that there are many such instances? I do not know the exact numbers on an annual basis. I put down this question because of the case of a constituent victim of a hit and run accident having to spend many weeks in hospital with no compensation coming to him. Surely the requirement is that the law should give some protection to such innocent victims who may not be disabled for life but may be forced——
The Deputy need not make a speech.
——into a long hospital convalescence. At present it seems there is no financial compensation for such victims.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. There are important considerations in so far as the protection of innocent victims is concerned and I am prepared to take up the matter with the Minister for the Environment.
Has the Minister any idea of the number of such accidents per year?
I have not got that in my brief. If such information exists I will convey it to the Deputy.