DUP MP Gregory Campbell has tabled a question in the House of Commons requesting the monthly costs for the Saville Inquiry since its conclusion in 2005.
The move comes after the announcement that the final report will not be completed until autumn 2009. A letter from Lord Saville stated: "We have always found it difficult, given the scale and complexity of the material with which we are dealing, to p
redict accurately how long it will take to complete our task," and added his team were determined to "deal fairly, accurately and thoroughly with the issues before us."
However, Gregory Campbell told the Sentinel: "According to my information the last witness gave their evidence in January 2005. That is approaching four years since that point.
"I have therefore requested the costs on a month by month basis since the last witness was heard and I should have those figures by the end of the week."
The DUP man also pointed out that Lord Saville and his administrative team are still having to be paid in this period.
Costs to date have surpassed £180 million, a figure that in the current economic climate, Gregory Campbell believes could have been better spent.
"Considering what £181 million could have got for the entire community - and it is possible that the final report won't satisfy anyone within the community," he said.
Mr Campbell said he has no information to suggest why the long awaited report into the events of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry on January 30, 1972 have been delayed yet again.
The Northern Ireland Office also expressed concern at the latest delay and released a statement from Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Shaun Woodward which said: "The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland was surprised and disappointed to learn of yet another delay in completing the report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
"He shares the concerns of families and of others who are understandably concerned about the cost of further delay."
And, this sentiment was echoed by a relative of one of those killed on the day. John Kelly said that realistically, the time scale for completion of the report will be 12 years from start to end.
"The public are frustrated and this has affected people traumatically. Everyone has waited patiently, not just the families and the injured, and now we have to wait even longer," he said.
The full article contains 425 words and appears in Londonderry Sentinel newspaper.
