Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 107 of 11 May 2017, the status of the bill of costs that has been submitted to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse by each of the religious congregations; if the commission is now in a position to release this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29674/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, established under the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act, is independent in the exercise of its functions.

I have been advised by the Commission that it is still not in a position to release the information sought by the Deputy.  The Commission is still pursuing legal costs and disclosure, at this point in time, of any information in relation to the amounts billed by the various religious congregations could be prejudicial to the complex negotiations currently under way in relation to outstanding third party legal costs. 

In its special report No 96 titled Cost of Child Abuse Inquiry and Redress released in December 2016, the Comptroller and Auditor General reported on the global figures relating to third party legal costs.  The report may be of assistance to the Deputy and can be accessed at the following link: