Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

With the indulgence of the House it would be helpful to my answering Deputy Kelleher's question if I can make available the information that I have from the HSE. Before doing so I would like to clarify that the HSE at national level and I, as Minister for Health, only became aware of the role of the HSE counsellor on Friday evening, whereas other Departments and agencies have been aware of this for some time.

The HSE was advised on Friday afternoon of potential involvement in allegations relating to Sergeant McCabe which had been covered extensively in the media. While the details surrounding the case are currently being determined it would appear that a client was self referred to the HSE's National Counselling Service in July 2013, making an allegation of retrospective abuse. In line with process, this allegation was referred to the HSE's child protection service in the area in August 2013. It is understood that this incident was also previously reported to the Garda Síochána in 2006 but that the DPP did not proceed with a case at that time. It would seem that the client was then contacted by the Garda in May 2014 in relation to the allegation. However, she became concerned that the detail of the allegation as advised to her by the Garda was incorrect. She then - she being the client - contacted the HSE counsellor and advised her of this. The counsellor, in turn, reported the error to the HSE director of counselling. Immediate steps were taken by the director of counselling that very day and it was found that there was an administrative error on the report form. On that day in May 2014 a letter was hand delivered to Tusla child and family services as HSE child and family services had transitioned to Tusla in 2014 and it was marked for the attention of the social work team leader, informing that it had come to the attention of the HSE National Counselling Service that there was an administrative error on a report submitted to its office on 9 August 2013.

The letter described the error and included an amended report with the correct information. This report was dated 14 May 2014.

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