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Departmental Legal Costs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 December 2015

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Questions (144)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

144. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total cost to her Department, and those under her aegis, for the procurement of legal services in the State from 2011 to 2015 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44578/15]

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Written answers

The following table sets out the total cost to the Department for the procurement of legal services in the State from 2011 to 2015, including legal costs awarded against the Department.

Year

Amount €

2011

1,121,000

2012

236,000

2013

407,000

2014

668,000

2015 to date

610,381

Total:

€3,042,381

Costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office.

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pensions Authority, the Citizens Information Board, and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The costs of legal services in these statutory bodies from 2011 to 2015 are set out in the following tables:

The Pensions Ombudsman:

Year

Amount €

2011

76,462

2012

111,945

2013

146,207

2014

225,262

2015 to date

205,977

Total:

€765,853

The Pensions Authority:

Year

Amount €

2011

373,000

2012

371,000

2013

78,000

2014

42,000

2015 to date

54,000

Total:

€918,000

Citizens Information Board:

Year

Amount €

2011

7,108

2012

33,797

2013

74,543

2014

2,151

2015 to date

40,591

Total:

€158,190

There were no legal fees paid in respect of the Social Welfare Tribunal from 2011 to 2015.

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