Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost to date of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, in tabular form; the anticipated cost upon completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15575/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters was established by Government on 17th February 2015 (S.I. No. 57 of 2015). In establishing the Commission, the Government noted that the investigation and associated additional demands on the Department of Children and Youth Affairs were estimated to cost, to completion, were in the order of €21.5m, exclusive of third party legal costs.  Due to the nature of the live investigative process, it is not possible to anticipate the final cost. 

Since it's establishment expenditure of approximately €8.4m has been incurred (to end March 2019) to support salaries, fees and other operational costs relating to the work of the independent Commission and its engagement with former residents and other witnesses.

In addition, my Department has also directly incurred costs of approximately €1.9m to end March 2019 in supporting this work and responding to its interim reports. This includes the processes I have commenced to complement the Commission's work by facilitating former residents of these institutions to directly engage on the issues of concern to them and their families.