Ms Geraldine Tallon:

In the period since the report was published Judge Mahon has been assessing costs in the period of 2003-8. Costs rulings have been made in respect of two thirds of the bills arising in the 2003-8 period.

The overall cost of the tribunal that has been met from the Department's Vote up to the end of 2011 is €97.35 million. Adding the overall cost to 31 May this year, it is €101.3 million from the Department's Vote. As the Comptroller and Auditor General pointed out on a previous occasion, there are also costs arising at State level, outside the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. They were estimated at approximately €12 million. The State costs were for accommodation in Dublin Castle and so forth. The spend up to the end of May 2013 from the Department's Vote is €101.3 million. We communicated with the committee secretariat last year regarding the estimated overall costs. They stand at approximately €196 million.