SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has questioned further delays to the Troubles Permanent Disability Payment scheme.

The First and deputy First Ministers confirmed to Mr McCrossan through an Assembly question that there had been 1,489 successful applicants at the start of December last year.

The average backdated payment award was £42,633.73, the average lump sum payment was £43,044.81 and the average monthly payment is £414.41.

Mr McCrossan said:

“While I welcome that nearly £70m has been paid out to successful applicants since the launch of the payment scheme, these latest figures show that this process is still moving far too slowly for victims. We have already seen a two-year extension to one element of the scheme, and so far less than a quarter of applications have been decided on, with over 10,000 applications received since August 2021.

“The people applying to this scheme have in some cases waited decades for much needed support and it’s disappointing that many have become entangled in a drawn-out and complicated process when all they wanted was the compensation they are entitled to. Some applicants will have been through incredibly distressing experiences, suffering life-changing injuries as part of our troubled past and I have spoken to constituents who have described being retraumatised by this process, while others have felt valid applications have been refused unjustly.

“No victim should have to wait years to have their application heard due to the lengthy delays that have blighted the application process. They have waited long enough and it’s imperative that the Executive works with the Payment Board to ensure that this scheme delivers for victims and that this process is brought to a conclusion as quickly as possible.”