Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 5

Written Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

21 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice the reason for the delay in payments being made from the Criminal Injuries Board; if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to rectify the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

Awards for compensation made under the criminal injuries compensation scheme are paid as quickly as possible within the resources available. Following the allocation of an additional £4 million to the scheme by way of Supplementary Estimate last year, the delay between acceptance of awards and payment to applicants was considerably reduced.

Deputies will understand that, as in the case of all public services, funding for criminal injuries compensation has to be allocated on the basis of requirement, the competing demands for other services and the overall budgetary situation. The possibility of providing additional funding for the scheme is kept under constant review in my Department.