Brian Stanley
Ceist:339. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice if the current procedures will be reviewed for injuries incurred on duty for prison officers (details supplied). [15554/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 24 March 2022
Ceisteanna (339)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted on Prison Officers provides for compensation in respect of personal injuries criminally inflicted on prison officers in the course of duty.
The Scheme is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, which is independent in the matter of individual decisions on applications for compensation.
While there has been engagement between the Department and the Irish Prison Service on the operation of the Scheme, paragraph 7 of the Scheme already provides that compensation awarded by the Tribunal will be on the basis of damages awarded under the Civil Liability Acts (except in a range of defined circumstances set out in that paragraph).
In assessing an award for general damages under the prison officer scheme, the Tribunal in the past took the Book of Quantum into account.
In April 2021 the Judicial Council Personal Injuries Guidelines were commenced and I can confirm that since then, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal has regard to those guidelines in assessing general damages under the prison officer scheme.