Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 354: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide an estimate of the cost of legal services which his Department paid for in 2007 and to date in 2008; and if he is satisfied that effective measures are in place to minimise this cost. [39314/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can inform the Deputy that, for the most part, the legal services sought by my Department and its associated bodies are co-ordinated and paid for by the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. These services are typically sought in the context of the preparation of legislation, legal advice in respect of policy issues and in the management of litigation including judicial reviews.

In a number of instances, my Department and its associated bodies, in accordance with normal procurement procedures, have sought and paid for legal advice and services additional to those provided for centrally by the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor. The estimated amounts for 2007 and to date in 2008 are listed below:

2007: €4,140,295;

2008 (To date): €3,328,583.

The Deputy should note that these costs relate only to the legal services commissioned by my Department and its agencies and do not include matters such as the running costs of Tribunals, the legal costs payable to third parties which are funded by my Department and payments to the State Claims Agency, in respect of which a breakdown of the expenditure involved is not available.