Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to join in the vote of sympathy in relation to the late Liam Cosgrave who made a huge contribution to this country in difficult times. During the ceremony, there were interesting references to Liam Cosgrave's support for the Garda and the Garda's support for him. At an extremely difficult time, this played a major part in making sure we had peace in this country. Liam Cosgrave made a major contribution in this whole area.

In that context, I welcome the announcement in today's Budget Statement that an additional 800 gardaí and an additional 500 civilian Garda staff will be recruited in 2018. I also welcome the increase in spending of 3.4% that is being provided for in this budget. I remind my colleague who referred to a lack of money for this or that that the annual increases of 12% in Government spending some years ago caused a false economy.

I would like to raise an important matter that relates to the victims of crime. A legal colleague wrote to me the other day to advise me that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is experiencing substantial delays in dealing with claims. The tribunal compensates people who have suffered injuries as a result of serious assaults but are not being provided for. In the case that was referred to me, an application for compensation was lodged in 2012 and all the necessary documentation was lodged more than two years ago. It will be anything up to a further two years before the matter will be dealt with. We are talking about people who are victims of crime. In this case, the person who assaulted the injured party was imprisoned for more than ten years as a penalty for this serious assault.

The money awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is not a lump sum.It is to provide for medical care, dental care and loss of earnings. That is all it covers. We are finding that there is a delay of well over five years in dealing with claims. I ask the Leader to bring the issue to the Minister's attention. I also believe the Minister should come to the House to explain what he will do to get rid of the waiting list. Victims of crime should not be left waiting in this manner. It is a serious issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. It is grand to have more gardaí on the street, but people will still suffer injury as a result of a serious assault, no matter how many gardaí are on the streets or what is done in this area, and they need to be compensated adequately.