Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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348. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and amounts paid out for compensation and injury claims by members of An Garda Síochána each year since 2000; the associated legal fees and other associated costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12482/18]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of compensation and injury claims lodged by members of An Garda Síochána each year since 2000; the amount of those claims yet to be finalised or settled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12483/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

The Garda Síochána (Compensation) Acts, 1941 and 1945 provide for a scheme of compensation for members of An Garda Síochána who are maliciously injured in the course of their duty or in relation to the performance of their duties as members of An Garda Síochána and for the dependants of members who have died from injuries maliciously inflicted on them.

Under the Acts, I as Minister, have the responsibility to approve or refuse applications for compensation, having regard to the circumstances of the case and the legislation. This assessment is discharged by designated officials of my Department. Before deciding if an applicant should be authorised to apply to the High Court for compensation in respect of the injury, the practice has been for the Minister to consider all medical reports submitted by the applicant, together with a report on the incident by the Garda Commissioner and a report on the injury by the Garda Chief Medical Officer. The whole process of progressing an application for compensation from the date of its receipt to the date it is authorised, may take a considerable period of time. The case cannot be examined until the relevant medical and investigation reports are furnished to my Department.

The number of applications received by my Department in the period 2000-2017 is set out in the table. There are currently 77 applications for compensation ready for processing.

Once an application is approved, it is for the individual concerned to apply to the High Court for compensation. I wish to advise the Deputy that compensation awards are paid from the Garda Vote and that the amounts paid in the period 2000-2017 are set out in the following table:

*Legal costs paid in any particular year do not necessarily correspond to the awards made in that year.