The Flood tribunal has so far cost £9.6 million, of which almost £5 million has gone to the inquiry's legal team. According to figures released by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, the costs to the State have reached £9,644,877.15. Senior counsel for the inquiry have earned between £418,000 and £884,000.

The tribunal, established in October 1997, began formal hearings in January 1999, and has sat for 243 days up to January 26th. Mr Dempsey, in a written reply to Mr Ivor Callely (FF, Dublin North Central) detailed the fees paid to each member of the tribunal's legal team.

Mr Patrick Hanratty SC has received £884,317.51 in fees up to December last year, while Mr John Gallagher SC earned £882,928.79. Mr Desmond O'Neill SC received fees of £668,329.65, while the fees of Mr Felix McEnroy SC totalled £418,870 between December 1997 and July 1999.

Of the tribunal's junior counsel, Ms Patricia Dillon's fees amounted to £469,327.30, while Ms Eunice O'Raw received £471,852.50 and Ms Mairead Coughlan earned £377,844.49.

The inquiry's senior solicitor, Ms Maire Aine Howard, earned £281,446.18, while solicitor Ms Susan Gilvarry, who joined the inquiry in October, has to date earned £6,882.50.