The Surgical Symphysiotomy Ex-gratia Payment Scheme, which was approved by Government, concluded with the publication of the Report of its independent Assessor, Judge Maureen Harding Clark, on 22 November 2016. Prior to the commencement of the Scheme it was estimated that the total cost of the Scheme would be around €34 million. My Department paid all costs relating to the Scheme from within its own budget on foot of a request for payment for each item of costs from Judge Clark.
On pages 29 and 30 in her final report, which she submitted to me on 19 October, 2016, Judge Clark had estimated that the total cost of the Scheme would be €33.185 million, comprised of €29.8 million in awards to the women, €2.08 million to solicitors for assisting applicants and for costs incurred for proceedings in the High Court, approximately €105,000 for examination and investigation of the symphysiotomy/pubiotomy claims and around €1.2 million in administrative costs including the salary of the Judge and her team of three Counsel and office expenses. At that time Judge Clark had estimated that around €400,000 of the overall total had yet to be paid. However, on 1 December, 2016, which was the date on which the final payment was made by my Department under the Scheme, it transpired that only €214,965.88 in payments had been outstanding.
The payments made between the date of receipt by me of Judge Clark's report (19 October, 2016) and the date on which the final payment relating to the Scheme was made, (1 December, 2016) and also the overall total amount paid under the Scheme to each payee, are set out in the table:
Date
|
Amount paid after receipt of Judge Clark's report €
|
Payee
|
Total amount paid to payee under the Scheme 2014 -2016 €
|
20-10-16
|
5,943.37
|
Judge Clark, Assessor
|
316,272.19
|
26-10-16
|
704.04
|
Viking Direct Ltd
(office requirements)
|
2,837.66
|
26-10-16
|
4,305.00
|
MacGeehin Toale Solicitors (Applicants' Solicitor)
|
1,098,400.29
|
26-10-16
|
1,458.33
|
Health Service Executive
(Rental of office)
|
23,333.28
|
02-11-16
|
10,700.00
|
Dr. Leo Lawler
(Clinical Advice)
|
58,950.00
|
02-11-16
|
1,230.00
|
Dr Barry O'Reilly
(Clinical Advice)
|
1,230.00
|
02-11-16
|
250.00
|
Dr Mary Kearney
(Clinical Advice)
|
250.00
|
03-11-16
|
3,396.21
|
Judge Clark, Assessor
|
316,272.19
|
09-11-16
|
250.46
|
Electric Ireland
|
3,059.83
|
9-11-16
|
1,500.00
|
Dr James Cashman
(Clinical Advice)
|
1,500.00
|
09-11-16
|
153.23
|
Bryan S.Ryan Ltd
|
153.23
|
09-11-16
|
204.30
|
Judge Clark, Assessor
|
316,272.19
|
16-11-16
|
27,521.25
|
Donal McGuinness, BL
|
158,817.60
|
16-11-16
|
44,212.35
|
Rebecca Broderick, BL
|
187,538.11
|
16-11-16
|
110,392.25
|
Denise Brett BL
|
415,808.45
|
16-11-16
|
1,458.33
|
Health Service Executive
(Rental of office)
|
23,333.28
|
16-11-16
|
861.00
|
MacGeehin Toale Solicitors
Applicants' Solicitor)
|
1,098,400.29
|
16-11-16
|
200.00
|
Dr Leo Lawler
(Clinical Advice)
|
58,950.00
|
23-11-16
|
160.62
|
Eir
|
4,719.55
|
01-12-16
|
65.14
|
Bord Gais
|
706.07
|