27 April 2021
Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme for applications
TROUBLES PERMANENT DISABLEMENT PAYMENT SCHEME TO
OPEN ON 30 JUNE
Mr
Justice McAlinden, President of the Victims’ Payments Board, has today
announced his intention to open the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment
Scheme for applications from 30 June 2021.
The
Victims’ Payments Board will be responsible for determining who is entitled to
payment in respect of an injury caused by a Troubles-related incident. The framework on entitlement is set out in
the Victims’ Payments Regulations 2020, which establish the Troubles Permanent
Disablement Payment Scheme, and the Secretary of State’s Guidance which was
published on 14 August 2020.
Mr
Justice McAlinden was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as President of the
Victims’ Payments Board on 1 March 2021.
Twenty-six legal, medical and ordinary members of the Board have also
been sworn into office.
In
a statement, Mr Justice McAlinden said:
“I am delighted to announce that it is my intention
that the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payments Scheme will open for
applications from 30 June. As President
I have worked closely with the recently appointed Board members and the team
established by the Department of Justice to develop the administrative
arrangements for the payment scheme.
I have also held a number of constructive meetings
with representatives from the main groups supporting the victims of the
Troubles. This has helped to establish
positive working relationships which should enable victims to have trust in the
Board. The many victims deserve the
recognition and payments to which they are entitled. The recent Court of Appeal
decisions made it clear that the Executive Office was under a legal duty to
make these payments and I am encouraged of the work carried out to ensure the
full implementation of the scheme which the legislation envisages.”
Further information will be
made available in due course on the Victims’ Payments Board website.
Anyone
wishing to register an interest in the scheme can do so by emailing vpsqueries@justice-ni.gov.uk.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The
Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme is established by section 10 of
the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019 and the Victims’ Payments
Regulations 2020. The Regulations were
commenced on 24 February 2020 and the Department of Justice was designated as
the relevant department on 24 August 2020.
Schedule
1 to the Regulations provides for the Lord Chief Justice to appoint a person as
the President of the Victims’ Payments Board.
The legal, medical and ordinary members of the Board were appointed by
the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission. A legal member must be a member of the Bar or
a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of at least five years’ standing. A medical member must be a registered medical
practitioner. An ordinary member may be
appointed if it appears to the Department of Justice that the person has
appropriate knowledge or experience.
ENDS