132 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Justice the length of time persons to whom awards have been made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal Board have to wait before the award is paid by the Board; the arrangements, if any, he intends making to reduce this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I am informed by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal that the date of payment of an award is determined by the date of acceptance of the award and awards currently being paid were accepted in July 1991.

The matter of additional funding for the Tribunal is kept under constant review in my Department. As in the case of all public services, funding for criminal injuries compensation has to be allocated on the basis of requirement, competing demands for other services and for the limited financial resources available and the overall budgetary situation.