Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

550. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters by year to date; a breakdown of costs related to salaries, fees, operational costs, legal costs any other costs; the cost of the collaborative forum process and a breakdown of same in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28393/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 €21.5m, exclusive of third party legal costs.

Since its establishment, expenditure of approximately €11.4m has been incurred (to Q3 2020) 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, the Department has also directly incurred costs of approximately €2.48 million for the same period in supporting this work and responding to the Commission's interim reports.

This includes the costs associated with the separate Collaborative Forum process to facilitate former residents of these institutions to engage on the issues of concern to them and their families. Costs for this process include an extensive public information campaign to support the call for expressions of interest from former residents, operational costs such as meeting facilities and participant travel, and external facilitation and related supports.