Inquiry into child abuse to cost over €130m

By Juno McEnroe

Friday, November 20, 2009

THE head of the Department of Education has admitted the cost of the 10-year long Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was widely underestimated and is now set to cost taxpayers over €130 million, more than 60 times the estimated bill.

The inquiry is now expected to finish its work by the end of 2010.

The inquiry’s shocking report on sexual abuse in Church-run institutions was published in May. But the archiving of abuse files, the provision of copies of the report for the deaf and the handling of third-party legal costs means the inquiry is still costing taxpayers millions of euro.

Department of Education secretary general Brigid McManus told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that up to 10 people were still working for the commission as well its chairman, Judge Sean Ryan.

Its advisers were working on a "per diem" rate and it was not using barristers, it was added.

Ms McManus admitted the inquiry had gone into "somewhat uncharted territory". It had faced a number of legal challenges, underestimated the number of witnesses, had used a higher pay rate for lawyers initially and had undergone two reviews.

Labour’s Roisin Shortall said it seemed like the department had not been actively controlling costs.

Ms McManus denied this, adding: "I don’t think it’s true that we said ‘there you go, spend what you like’."

Estimates for remaining third-party legal costs range between €30m and €40m, the committee heard.

Up to €17m has already been paid out in third-party costs while in many cases rates are still under negotiation.

The scheme of costs for the inquiry had been a learning experience for the department, members were told. Ms McManus also said considerable discounts on legal fees had been secured by negotiating rates.

Elsewhere, the committee yesterday heard some religious orders, which were asked to submit proposals on increasing the Church’s compensation contributions to abuse victims, have so far failed to submit their plans to the Government.

At least one of the 18 religious orders investigated by the Ryan Commission has still not indicated if they will contribute to a new compensation fund for former residents of the institutions.

The committee also heard that only half the religious properties already pledged as part of the Church’s €128m in compensation, have officially been handed over to the state. Up to 32 properties still had to be officially transferred and accepted while 31 already had been.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Friday, November 20, 2009