John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the process within her Department for dealing with protected disclosures under the 2014 Act; if the examinations of such disclosures are carried out by an independent authority or persons other than those within the organisation to which the disclosure refers; the number of disclosures received by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15070/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department is committed to fostering an appropriate environment for dealing with protected disclosures under the 2014 Act. In this regard, my Department has adopted the guidelines provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in processing any protected disclosure received. My Department has developed a draft set of guidelines for guidance in these matters and staff are encouraged to follow these procedures fully.

I can confirm that to date two protected disclosures have been received by my Department with a third under consideration by the Legal Advisor as to whether it meets the criteria as set out under the Act to be considered a protected disclosure.

In relation to the management of cases, I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to responding to each case that has been deemed to be a protected disclosure and if it is considered that an independent authority or person is required to examine a case, or aspects of any particular case, my Department is committed to taking this action.

Any protected disclosure received in my Department is treated seriously and investigated where that is considered appropriate in accordance with the provisions of the 2014 Act.