Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected total legal costs to be incurred in his Department in 2012; his proposals to reduce these costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43391/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The expected total legal costs to be incurred by my Department in 2012 are estimated to be in the region of €88,600.00

In order to reduce the costs incurred where possible legal advice is sourced through the Attorney General’s office and the Chief State Solicitors Office.

The Deputy may also be interested in the fact that officials in my Department are undertaking a review of public expenditure on legal services. As a major consumer of legal services, it is essential to ensure that the State is both achieving maximum value for money for its own expenditure and is not acting to distort the wider market for legal services. The recently established Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service is in the process of reviewing this area in order to identify scope to enhance value for money in the procurement of legal services. The review will also consider best international practice in this regard and potential reforms in the case of Ireland. The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.