A DEADLINE of October 28th next has been set for applications from those applying for their legal costs following dealings with the Ryan commission.
The commission investigated the abuse of children in reformatories, industrial schools and orphanages run by religious congregations.
A notice on the commission website indicates that after the October cut-off point “no costs will be considered or processed by the commission, which is the statutory body with sole authority in these matters”.
It says the commission has taken this decision in order to “facilitate the timely completion of its work and so it can plan, accordingly, for adequate resources to meet any outstanding liabilities”.
Its costs team has written to solicitors whose expenses have not yet been settled, to advise them of this decision. The notice says that the commission published its report in May 2009 and before and since then has settled legal costs as it proceeded.
“As such, ample time has been allowed to all parties to formulate their reasonable costs,” it adds.
Comptroller and Auditor General John Buckley has concluded “the likely cost to the State of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse based on the pattern of costs experienced to date is estimated to be in the range of €126 million to €136 million”.
He forecast that of those costs administration will amount to almost €30 million, the commission legal team will cost €15.73 million, litigation will account for €2.22 million, other State costs will amount to more than €2 million, the outlay by the State in responding to the commission’s inquiries will be €8.5 million.
He also felt, based on a commission projection, that final cost of third-party representation could range from between €52 million and €62 million.”
The commission had no role in compensating abuse survivors. That was undertaken by the Residential Institutions Redress Board which will have paid out some €1.36 billion when its work ends.
Last month Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said the board was to be wound down and would not consider late applications received on or after September 17th next.
