Written answers

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Departmental Legal Costs

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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280. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the expenditure his Department incurred in respect of external legal fees in each of the years from 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14075/20]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department seeks, where possible, to minimise legal costs and avails of the services of the Chief State Solicitor's office, the Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency in terms of the provision of legal advice and representation of the Department in court cases.

The following table sets out details in relation to external legal services provided directly to my Department by legal firms from 2016 to date in 2020. The table does not include costs associated with the Planning Tribunal.

Company name Details of legal fees / services 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
A&L Goodbody Legal advice on Water Abstraction 23,985 23,985
A&L Goodbody Legal advice on Water and Planning Guidance 01
Arthur Cox Legal Advice on Foreshore Consent Issues 4,045 83,623 113,110 33,070
Arthur Cox Professional Fees in relation to Land Development Agency 102,716 171,146
E. C. Gearty Legal Fees incurred by Longford County Council in relation to Elfeet piggery 6,775
Eversheds Sutherland Legal advice - PPP Bundles (procurement/tenders) 157,554 260,529 48,922 167,200 22,407
Geoffrey Fox Drafting of EU (Planning and Development) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2018 43,050
Hannah Godfrey BL Payment of fees for legal services during 2018; Judicial Review Casey v Min Housing, Planning and Local Government 11,236
Hugh O’Neill SC Facilitation fee for settlement of Atlantic Shellfish Case. 10,250
Paul Gilligan SC Payment of legal fees for mediation at court case involving Sea Fibre Networks & Celtic Connect V Min for Housing, Planning & Local Govt 12,300
McCann Fitzgerald Professional services relating to 2015 supplier dispute 2,568
McKeever Solicitors Witnessing signature of an affidavit 10
Patrick Butler SC Independent non-statutory review of files held by the Department 8,610
Patrick Butler SC Preparation of report as authorised person under S. 224 of the Local Government Act 2001 39,475
Philip Lee Solicitors Legal opinion on HAP Scheme 10,322
TOTAL €223,696 €488,864 €397,656 €224,265 €22,407

1 Invoice awaited

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