Written answers

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Department of Social Protection

Departmental Legal Costs

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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144. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total cost to her Department, and those under her aegis, for the procurement of legal services in the State from 2011 to 2015 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44578/15]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The following table sets out the total cost to the Department for the procurement of legal services in the State from 2011 to 2015, including legal costs awarded against the Department.

YearAmount €
20111,121,000
2012236,000
2013407,000
2014668,000
2015 to date610,381
Total:€3,042,381
Costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Chief States Solicitors Office.

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pensions Authority, the Citizens Information Board, and the Social Welfare Tribunal. The costs of legal services in these statutory bodies from 2011 to 2015 are set out in the following tables:

The Pensions Ombudsman:

YearAmount €
201176,462
2012111,945
2013146,207
2014225,262
2015 to date205,977
Total:€765,853

The Pensions Authority:

YearAmount €
2011373,000
2012371,000
201378,000
201442,000
2015 to date54,000
Total:€918,000

Citizens Information Board:

YearAmount €
20117,108
201233,797
201374,543
20142,151
2015 to date40,591
Total:€158,190
There were no legal fees paid in respect of the Social Welfare Tribunal from 2011 to 2015.

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