The work of the Residential Institutions Redress Board has cost over €1.1bn up to the end of last year - €130m more than the total awards granted.
The information was contained in the board's annual report for 2017 which was considered by Cabinet today and will be published shortly.
The awards are made to assist in the recovery of people who suffered as children in certain institutions and who have, or have had, injuries that are consistent with abuse.
The report stated that the work and the processing of payments has cost more than €1.1bn, when legal fees are taken into account, whereas the total awards cost €970m.
During its 16 years in operation, the Board has processed 16,650 applications - the average payment was €62,250, with the largest being €300,500.
Of the applications submitted,12,016 awards were made following settlement; 2,994 awards were made following hearings; 571 awards were made following review; and 1,069 applications were withdrawn, refused or resulted in a nil or no award.
The board is due to be dissolved but that is dependent on the outcome of a judicial review to be ruled on by the Supreme Court, most likely next year, and the enactment of the Records Retention Bill.
The general scheme of the bill, approved in 2015, allows for records to be kept from the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Redress Board and Review Committee, and the Government.
Drafting of the Bill is complete and a memo on publication will be brought to Government.
