Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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397. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the completion date of the final substantive Farrelly commission report, and the date the report was first shared with her Department. [22434/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission of Investigation (certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters), “the Farrelly Commission”; is an independent statutory Commission of Investigation established in 2017.

The deputy may wish to be aware that the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth received the Final Substantive Report from the Commission of Investigation on 29 July 2024. The Commission also provided a statement concerning Part X of the Terms of Reference of the Commission of Investigation. Both the Final Substantive Report and the Statement on Part X of the Terms of Reference were referred to the Office of the Attorney General for legal advices and to ensure there was no impediment to the full publication of the report.

The intervening period around the dissolution of the Dáil in early November 2024 , the election in late November 2024 and the formation of a new Government with Ministers appointed in late January 2025 had an impact on the timing of decision-making on an appropriate response to the statement on part X received from the Commission.

Following approval at a government meeting on the 15 April 2025, the Final Substantive Report together with the Commission's statement concerning Part X of its Terms of Reference were published and are available publicly on my Department's website at the link below. www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-equality-disability-integration-and-youth/publications/farrelly-commission-final-reports/.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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398. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total financial costs associated with the Farrelly commission. [22435/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission of Investigation (certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters), “the Farrelly Commission”; is an independent statutory Commission of Investigation established in 2017.

To date, the Commission of Investigation has cost approximately €13.6m. This is inclusive of administration costs, salaries, Ward of Court costs for the representative of Grace, and directions relating to third-party legal costs made to date.

The Commission has been facilitated with a final short technical extension to 23 May 2025 to ensure that outstanding matters in regard to legal costs and archiving are completed and for submission of the final report of the Commission on costs.

The final report of the Commission will include the final figure on costs involved, and that figure will be provided on submission of the final report, which will then lead to the dissolution of the Commission.