Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 October 2019
206. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of legal fees and settlements in colleges (details supplied) in each of the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019, including a settlement in 2018 at the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, for alleged bullying. [43295/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe colleges referred to in the question from the Deputy are under the patronage of Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). Management of industrial relations issues under the auspices of the Work Place Relations Commission (WRC) and further on appeal through the Courts, including any legal fees or settlements resulting from such cases, are matters for the ETB concerned.
CMETB has advised my officials in that in the case of Inver College there were two disputes before the WRC in the years between 2014 and 2019. My officials have been further advised that the cases were settled between the parties on confidential terms including legal costs. The legal costs incurred by the ETB in managing one case was €8,601 and in the second cases the ETB's legal costs were covered by their insurance.
In the case of Largy College following High Court and Court of Appeal hearings against CMETB relating to a decision to transfer a teacher from that college in which the litigant was unsuccessful legal costs totalling €188,852.93 were awarded to CMETB. As the litigant did not consent to these costs the matter has now been sent for taxation in default of agreement.
