Colm M. Hilliard
Question:99 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the reduction of 70 per cent under subhead C of Vote 14, as contained in the 1997 Estimates for the public service. [1453/97]
Written Answers. - Departmental Estimates.
Subhead C — General Law Expenses — of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions' Vote covers costs awarded against either the Director or various other office holders of the State following Judicial Review and other proceedings in a criminal matter which fall to be met from this Vote.
It is extremely difficult to estimate the amount required to meet ongoings under this heading in any given year as there is a number of variable factors involved. These factors include the number of cases, the length and complexity of the cases and the point in time when the bill of costs is presented for payment.
The reduction in the 1997 Estimate for subhead C arose because the 1996 Estimate included provision to meet anticipated bills for costs in a small number of exceptional cases and it was expected that costs of this nature would not arise again in 1997.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:100 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Finance if extra staff will be employed in 1997 in the Office of the Attorney General as a result of the increase in subhead A1 of Vote 13, or is it an increase of expenditure on the existing staff as per the 1997 Estimates for the public service. [1454/97]
The Abridged Estimates Volume for 1997 shows a provision of £7.5 million under subhead A1 of Vote 13 in respect of the salary costs of both the Chief State Solicitor and Attorney General's Offices — it represents an increase of £1 million over the A1 subhead provision for 1996. This increase covers the costs associated with additional staff approved for the Office in 1996, sanctioned general pay increases under the PCW and increments.