There were 299 applications to the two schemes — 229 under the general scheme and 70 under the scheme for prison officers — in 2024, according to the latest annual report from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal.

The tribunal made awards totalling €14.1 million, with €10m awarded to 203 applicants under the general scheme and €4.1m awarded to 120 applicants under the prison officers scheme.

Over the course of the year, tribunal members were sent 557 files for decision (336 under the general scheme and 221 under the prison officers scheme) and 84 appeal hearings were held.

Writing in the introduction to the annual report, tribunal chairperson Patricia Sheehy Skeffington BL paid tribute to two former tribunal members, including former chairperson Conor Heaney.

“On behalf of the tribunal I wish to record our sincere thanks and appreciation to both Roderick Maguire and Conor Heaney for their manifest commitment and contribution to our work,” she said.

“After serving on the tribunal for over three years and four years respectively, both stepped down over the last 12 months to take up judicial appointments. We wish them every success.

“I also want to add our warm thanks to Conor for his guidance and stewardship of the tribunal as its chair for the last four years.

“With wise and skilled leadership he enabled the tribunal to continue to advance its work over this period in supporting victims of crime in the State in a progressive and compassionate way.”

She continued: “The tribunal very much looks forward to building on this solid base into the future.”