Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when he expects to appoint a new tribunal for the scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted; the delay in appointing ordinary members of the tribunal; his views that the delays being experienced by applicants to the scheme is deplorable and unacceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2617/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can inform the Deputy that I am in the process of appointing a new Tribunal to administer the Scheme under the terms of Paragraph 17 of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted. I have recently appointed a Tribunal Chairperson, Mr. John Cheatle, B.L who can, under the terms of the Scheme, determine applications and is entirely independent in that regard. I expect to appoint the remaining members in the near future.

As the Deputy may be aware the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted is a cash limited Scheme. In recent years, due to a small number of very large awards, the budget has come under significant pressure and there were delays in awards being paid by the Tribunal to applicants as a consequence with some awards being paid in the following financial year or over a period of years in the case of very large monetary awards. However, in 2013 I managed to secure additional funding for the Scheme from Dáil Éireann by way of supplementary estimate which permitted the Tribunal to pay the overwhelming majority of awards, both outstanding and current, in full. Accordingly, there are now no significant payment delays being experienced by applicants to the Scheme.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow can expect to have their application processed to the scheme of compensation for personal injuries criminally inflicted; if their application is deemed successful, when they can expect payment; his views that the delay they are experiencing is unacceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2618/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware under the terms of the Scheme of Compensation for Personal Injuries Criminally Inflicted the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal is entirely independent in the matter of individual applications for compensation under the Scheme. However, in order to be of assistance in the matter I have had enquiries made with the Tribunal on his behalf.

I understand that the application referred to by the Deputy has been submitted for decision to the Tribunal Chairperson. As soon as the decision comes to hand a copy will be passed to the applicants’ solicitor.