Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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577. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22917/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have taken the allegations made in recent media reports including the RTÉ Investigates broadcast of 26th March extremely seriously.

The Report of the Department of Health team, set up to establish the facts in respect of specific allegations by RTÉ Primetime Investigates Programme, was published on 21st April. This report deals with each of the allegations made in the programme and related articles on the website.

The Minister of State for Disability was provided with a copy of the independent, expert review by an external Senior Counsel which was conducted under the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 on 26th March 2021.

The Department of Health has appointed an Independent Support Liaison Officer to engage directly with the 29 families involved in open Special Educational Needs litigation related to these allegations. These families are being contacted through the solicitor on file offering the opportunity to engage directly with the Independent Support Liaison Officer.