Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expected total legal costs to be incurred in her Department in 2012; her proposals to reduce these costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44072/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department records expenditure on legal and compensation costs and fees under a single heading. The elements of these payments relating solely to legal fees are not recorded separately. The total expenditure on legal and compensation costs-fees from 1 January 2012 to 9 October 2012 was €202,092. As it is not possible to predict what settlements will be made in the future, a figure for total expected legal costs for 2012 is not available.

Costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Chief States Solicitors Office.