PSNI Injury on Duty Claims

Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:15 pm on 1 December 2020.

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Photo of Alan Chambers Alan Chambers UUP 3:15, 1 December 2020

T6. Mr Chambers asked the Minister of Justice, given the understandable delays caused by the pandemic in relation to dealing with PSNI injury on duty claims, to confirm that the appeals are being considered once again and are progressing in a timely manner. (AQT 776/17-22)

Photo of Naomi Long Naomi Long Alliance

COVID was one of a number of issues in policing injury on duty claims. Progress is being made. I am happy to write to the Member, because I do not have all the detail in front of me, giving him further detail on exactly where we are with that programme.

Photo of Alan Chambers Alan Chambers UUP

I appreciate that, Minister, and look forward to receiving it. Perhaps you can also address my supplementary question in the letter: are you satisfied that sufficient administrative resources are in place to expeditiously discharge the backlog in cases awaiting consideration?

Photo of Naomi Long Naomi Long Alliance

Dealing with resources will always be challenging for a small Department with limited resources. We do exactly what we can. We are dealing with several priorities at this time, a number of which have a deadline attached. We are conscious that matters that may have been delayed due to COVID are among those priorities, and we try to progress things as quickly as we can and in as timely a manner as possible.