Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number that were accepted as a protected disclosure; the number that were in part or fully examined by a third party or consultancy; the number of protected disclosures under investigation over this period; and the number that were finalised and the contents accepted and acted on. [16025/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In the period 2017 to 2020 two Protected Disclosures were received by the Department, one in 2017 and one in 2019. No Protected Disclosures have been received in 2021 to date. One additional disclosure was received in late 2016 and has been the subject of examination in the period referred to.

In relation to the 2017 disclosure the Department responded at the time and the person who made the disclosure did not follow up to  correspondence. It is open to the discloser to further engage with the Department if they so wish.

In relation to the 2019 disclosure there is ongoing correspondence with the person concerned. A full investigation was not deemed necessary as preliminary enquiries established sufficient information to show that the substantive issues being disclosed were known and were being addressed. I have received further correspondence in recent months from the person who made the 2019 disclosure and I am aware that the Deputy has separately raised a number of questions with regard to that matter.

 In relation to the late 2016 disclosure, the details were referred to the relevant body for examination and a final report of is still awaited by the Department. An external consultancy examination of the correspondence was separately commissioned by the Department.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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128. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 from officials within his Department; the number of officials who made protected disclosures over the period and who are now not working in his Department; and the number of protected disclosures received from retired officials of his Department over the period. [16043/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In relation to the period 2017 to date in 2021 no protected disclosures were made by current officials of my Department, officials not now working in my Department or by retired officials of this Department.