Dublin City Council paid solicitors almost €1.5m last year.

According to details released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, five firms were paid at least €100,000 each.

Forty-five solicitors practice delivered a service to Dublin City Council in 2019.

The total amount paid to them was €1,493,000.

Jason O'Sullivan is the principal and founder of JOS Solicitors.

He does not think the bill is excessive.

"Last year it was reported that nearly 2,000 claims were made against the council over a period of two and a half years.

"While it was reported in 2018 that the council was owed over €75m in unpaid rents, loans and commercial rates.

"Therefore the level of legal fees - of €1.5m spent in 2019 - doesn't appear overly unreasonable".

The highest paid solicitors' firm last year was Paul N Beausang and Company, which received nearly €348,500.

Denis Linehan and Company was paid exactly €285,000.

Three other practices received between €100,000 and €200,000: Holmes O'Malley and Sexton Solicitors, the law firm Byrne Wallace and Eames Solicitors.

The other 40 firms were all paid less than €100,000 - with one receiving just €50.