Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 July 2025
3339. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department conducts regular benchmarking, or market testing, to ensure that the rates paid for legal services, solicitors and barristers, represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41523/25]
View answerThe Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) is best placed to comment on whether rates paid for legal services represent value for money for the taxpayer. My Department has processes and systems in operation to ensure that public financial procedures and value for money for the taxpayer are being complied with.
All legal costs for my Department are included within the published Appropriation Accounts, under 6.1 within Vote 45. Please find the link below.The 2024 Accounts are currently under audit and will be published once the audit is complete.
Appropriation Accounts - Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General: https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/publications/appropriation%20accounts/
