Barry Cowen
Question:576. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total legal costs incurred by his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49336/14]
View answerThursday, 18 December 2014
Questions (576)
Written answers
My Department administers a very diverse and complex brief. Its remit includes oversight of very complex policy areas and direct procurement of major services where protection of the State’s interest must be paramount. This situation necessarily requires my Department to procure specialist external professional advice in legal areas to enable it to discharge its responsibility to deliver quality services and protect the interests of the State and the taxpayer. The table sets out the total legal costs incurred by my Department in the years 2011 to 2014. There was no expenditure on legal fees in 2013. Estimated legal expenses in 2014 amount to €78,200.84
DCENR Legal Costs
|
2011 € |
2012 € |
2013 € |
2014 (estimated) € |
|
335,335.74 |
102,222.88 |
0.00 |
78,200.84 |
My Department always seeks to obtain value for money in procuring specialised legal services.