Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2004
142 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount spent by his Department on legal advice and lawyers in each of past three years; and the amount paid out in settlement of legal proceedings against his Department, including cases settled prior to coming to court in each of the past three years, omitting expenses relating to tribunals of inquiry. [5466/04]
View answerGenerally the Department of Education and Science secures legal advice and representation by and through the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and incurs no fees in relation to these services.
My Department meets the legal costs of litigants where there is a settlement to that effect or an order for costs against the Minister for Education and Science. The fees associated with these and the direct cost of any settlement are charged to the relevant subheads within the Education Vote and I regret that the material required to respond to this question has not been fully collated yet. A reply will be made directly to Deputy as soon as possible.
