Indicative Cost Estimates for the Reform of Ireland’s Guardian ad litem Service · A Point-in-Time Report

This report presents point-in-time indicative costings based on five hypothetical models for the reform of Ireland’s Guardian ad litem (GAL) service. The five models presented in the report were identified by policy colleagues during 2017, with supplementary requests added in early 2018.

The report highlights the potential cost implications for each hypothetical model, based on a set of static models. The report was prepared during the early stages of policy development to inform the policy-making process, and does not recommend a specific course of action. Cost drivers that are likely to have changed since submission include: legal fees; salary scales; demographics; rent costs, and reasonable profit rates.

The report is broken into two Sections:

• Section 1 presents the key assumptions underpinning the five reform models. Data is provided on staffing, i.e. GAL staff, legal staff and auxiliary staff numbers, and corresponding salary costs. This section also outlines the key cost drivers associated with the GAL service, including legal fees, leasing and overhead costs. In all cases, the most recent data were used as per time of writing.
• Section 2 presents cost estimates for each of the five models, with a range of model extensions.