Watt: No evidence of Department of Health dossiers on vulnerable children

Newly appointed secretary-general to address Oireachtas Health Committee over Primetime allegations

Robert Watt will tell TDs and senators the department has never gathered sensitive medical and educational information on children in the manner portrayed by RTÉ. Picture: Gareth Chaney / Collins Photos

There is no evidence the Department of Health is prying on families or that it secretly compiling dossiers on children with autism, TDs and senators will hear on Wednesday.

Robert Watt, the newly appointed secretary-general at the department, is to inform the Oireachtas Health Committee that an independent review found no basis to the allegations contained in a recent RTÉ Primetime programme.