CJEU sparks crime-compensation change
The Minister for Justice has published changes to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that allow victims of violent crime to be compensated for pain and suffering.
The scheme, which provides compensation to victims of violent crime in the State, has been in place since 1974, with previous major changes made to it in 1986 and 2021.
The Government decided to amend the scheme earlier this year after a judgment from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) found that national schemes could not exclude compensation for pain and suffering.
Guidelines on awards
The revised scheme also includes a provision for guidelines on the value of awards that can be made by the tribunal that administers the scheme.
Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that the changes were designed to improve the scheme for victims, as well as help ensure its long-term financial viability.
He added that the guidelines, to be published in the autumn, would help give certainty to both the victims of violent crime and to the State.
Working group
The changes to the scheme also provide for transitionary arrangements for new and existing undecided applications.
The minister also said that the Government was committed to further reform – including placing the current administrative scheme on a statutory footing.
Department of Justice officials have reconvened a working group to look at the scheme and are currently examining a report from the Law Reform Commission on victim compensation published earlier this year.