Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Defence 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. [44063/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The main requirement for legal services in my Department is in the context of litigation, usually in the form of judicial review and personal injury proceedings. The Chief State Solicitor’s Office is responsible for the costs of the State’s legal teams in cases that it manages on behalf of the Department. External legal costs incurred by the State Claims Agency arising from the defence of any claims managed by the Agency for the Department are refunded to the Agency by the Department. In addition, the Department may pay plaintiffs legal costs as part of awards and settlements.

Many of the factors that determine the amount or timing of legal costs that fall for payment lie outside of the control of the Department. These include the timing of court hearings, the progress of cases, and the number, value and timing of awards and settlements.

The expenditure on legal costs to date in 2012 amounts to €2.3 million. As the amount and timing of legal costs falling for payment is often determined by factors outside of the Department’s direct control, it is not possible at this point to accurately forecast total expenditure for the year.