John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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435. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Criminal Injuries Board; the number of Board members and their qualifications; the number of cases the Board deals with each year; and the number of cases pending. [41944/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted provides for the appointment of Tribunal members. The term of office of the Tribunal has now expired and I am in the process of appointing a new Tribunal. The number of Tribunal members and the length of their term of office is set out Paragraph 17 of the Scheme states as follows:

"The Scheme will be administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal, the members of which will be appointed by the Minister for Justice. It will consist of a Chairman and six ordinary members. The Chairman and each member will be either a practising barrister or a practising solicitor. The members of the Tribunal will act on a part-time basis but they will be paid fees for work done on a basis to be determined by the Minister for the Public Service."

As the Deputy will be aware, the Tribunal also administers the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted on Prison Officers.

Details of the number of applications received under each Scheme during the period 2009 to 2012 are set out in the following table:

I am informed that the Tribunal has 68 General Scheme applications and 28 Prison Officer applications pending submission to Tribunal members for determination.

I also understand that the Tribunal has 1,322 General Scheme applications and 250 Prison Officer applications awaiting documentation from applicants, i.e. medical reports, details of loss of earnings etc.