Legal Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Ceisteanna (407)

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

454 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the name of each solicitor’s practice that is paid either by the local authority or central government to provide legal services to local authorities in tabular form; the total number of hours each solicitors’ practice was employed to work, broken down by practice and local authority, in tabular form; the total amount paid to each practice by local authorities or central government, broken down by local authority, and the total amount paid in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5230/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Phil Hogan)

The information sought in the Question is not available in my Department. The provision or procurement of legal services is the responsibility of individual local authorities.Local authorities employ a variety of approaches in relation to obtaining legal services. Some local authorities employ legal professionals who are recruited in accordance with public sector recruitment rules. Other local authorities retain the services of a solicitor. Decisions in this context are a matter for individual local authorities having regard to their own circumstances and the appropriate public procurement procedures.