Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 43: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will provide details on the internal Health Service Executive disciplinary process that is taking place on foot of failings identified by the report into the Roscommon abuse case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41948/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Report into the Roscommon case was published by the HSE on 27th October 2010. The HSE have already stated that they are committed to learning from this and other reports to ensure that services are strengthened to help protect children to the greatest extent possible.

The HSE have informed me that the report is now with the Regional Director of Operations HSE West. He, as decision maker, will now determine whether or not any individual has a case to answer in terms of accountability or failure. In the event that there are such individuals identified, they will be dealt with in the context of the fair procedures of the disciplinary process for the Health Service. As there are expert matters in this report the RDO will take the appropriate expert advice in forming any such decision.

For the future, the Health and Social Care Council is in place and is setting up a Social Work Registration Board, set to commence in early 2011 for the registration of social workers. This will provide a more formal disciplinary process for Social Workers and will include the potential to hold Fitness to Practice investigations where appropriate.