We know from the Comptroller and Auditor General's report that in February 2001 the Department of Education and Science estimated the upper liability at €254 million. By April this had increased to €381 million and by June it had increased again to €508 million. At present, the Department estimates the liability at approximately €772 million, which is still almost €250 million less than the figure estimated by the Comptroller and Auditor General. This clearly shows that the estimates for liability are increasing rapidly. However, it is clear from the report that the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Finance agreed in April 2001, when liability was estimated at €381 million and rising, to accept a contribution of €127 million from the religious congregations. They knew this figure bore no relation to the actual liability faced by the State but they agreed the figure regardless.