Nora Owen
Ceist:34 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice if she will make a statement on the funding of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund and the reason for long delays in paying out claims.
Written Answers. - Criminal Injuries Tribunal Fund.
Mary Flaherty
Ceist:102 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Justice if she will make a statement on the funding of the Criminal Injuries Tribunal Fund; and the reason for the delay in paying out claims.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 102 together.
In the past six years nearly £19.5 million has been paid out under the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted. The matter of providing additional funding for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is kept under constant review in my Department. The Deputy will, however, be aware of the many competing demands that exist for the limited financial resources available. Ideally I would be glad to be in a position to meet all these demands but economic reality does not permit me to do so.
Awards of compensation made under the scheme are paid as quickly as possible within the resources available.