THE Dáil spending watchdog committee is to quiz state lawyers about reducing legal costs as well as examine attempts to cut bills for tribunals.

THE State is squandering €5 million a year of taxpayers’ money deliberately dragging families with special needs children through the courts in order to break their will to battle for key education resources, TDs yesterday warned.

THE State has saved almost €40 million in the last three years by forcing thousands of absent parents to contribute to the cost of rearing their children.