Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 November 2015
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which provision is being made, or has been made, for the costs associated with the Mahon tribunal, in respect of which legal or other costs are still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41094/15]
View answerThe Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments (the Mahon Tribunal) was established in October 1997 and published its Final Report in March 2012. The work of the Tribunal at present is largely focused on the settlement of the remainder of third-party and court costs incurred during the work of the Tribunal.
The Tribunal estimated in 2014 that the total costs of its deliberations would amount to approximately €159 m once all costs have been agreed and paid. This estimate was prepared in accordance with standard accounting practice and the agreed protocol on legal fees, on the assumption that all parties involved with the Tribunal, and who were entitled to apply for their costs, would receive all of their costs. The total cost of the Tribunal to date has amounted to €115.75 m. My Department has recently confirmed that the 2014 estimate remains an accurate prediction of the Tribunal’s likely total cost.
