Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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257. To ask the Minister for Health the costs of inquiries into allegations of historical abuse of persons with intellectual disabilities in community healthcare organisation, CHO, 5 in 2015 and 2016; the likely costs in 2017; and the estimates of costs either directly from Government or through the HSE of such inquiries in 2018. [40245/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The HSE undertook two major pieces of work in respect of the South East foster care case, i.e. the Devine Report (2012) and the Resilience Ireland Inquiry Report (March 2015 and Addendum August 2015).

As the Deputy's question partially relates to reports commissioned by the HSE, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and it will follow the matter up with the HSE.

The previous Government's approval to the establishment of a Commission of Investigation was given in principle, subject to a further decision to be made by the Government on detailed terms of reference, timelines and costs which was informed by the work undertaken by Mr. Conor Dignam senior counsel into related matters. Following the decision by Government concerning the establishment of a Commission, additional resources were allocated to Mr. Dignam and he was asked to identify matters which would assist in framing the Terms of Reference for the Commission. The total cost of the review carried out by Mr. Conor Dignam S.C. amounted to €67,650.

In relation to the likely costs for the Farrelly Commission of Investigation, the Government has noted costs in relation to the staffing, legal and administrative needs of the Commission. This is an active Commission of Investigation and the set up and running costs which have been paid from May to 21 September 2017 amount to €415,442.