Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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558. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of protected disclosures he and-or the Irish Prison Service has received in respect of Dóchas centres in the past five years to date; the number of and names of and costs associated with engaging external experts to investigate same; the number of protected disclosures over that time period that were rejected, investigated and closed, remain under investigation; and if any person was sanctioned or dismissed on foot of the outcome of investigations. [24550/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers report alleged wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. The Act, as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to comment on nor confirm the existence of any specific protected disclosure.

The protection of those wishing to make a protected disclosure rightly prioritises the confidentiality of the process, which is central to the efficacy of that process.

The Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service publishes annual reports on their websites detailing the numbers of disclosures received and resulting actions. Disciplinary matters are a personal and confidential process pertaining to the individual concerned.