Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 1

Written Answers. - Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal.

Proinsias De Rossa

Ceist:

98 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline in respect of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal (a) the number of cases currently awaiting hearing or under appeal, (b) the number of cases in which awards have been made but not yet paid, (c) the average amount due in regard to awards made but not yet paid, (d) the average waiting period before a claim is heard and determined by the tribunal and (e) the average time between the determination of a case and the payment of an award.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

I am informed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal that the position in relation to the matters raised in the question is as follows: (a) at present, there are 1,050 cases on hands for decision by the authorised officer or by a single member of the tribunal and a further 520 cases awaiting an appeal hearing before three members; (b) there are 140 awards of compensation awaiting payment; (c) the average value of these awards is approximately £12,800; (d) in the absence of any special circumstances giving rise to delays, applications currently being lodged with the tribunal are likely to be determined by a single member within ten months of date of lodgement. In the event of an appeal the waiting period, at present, for an appeal hearing is 24 months, approximately; and (e) The date of payment of an award is determined by the date of acceptance of the award and awards currently being paid were accepted in November 1990.