An estimated 3.7 million was recovered for the public purse last year following reports by whistleblowers, according to the first annual report into the operation of whistleblowing legislation by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
In total 1,162 reports of alleged wrongdoing in the workplace were submitted on a confidential basis as 'protected disclosures' to public bodies in last year, under the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022.
Of the reports, 734 were deemed to require further follow up, with 161 being sent for further proceedings and investigations.
It was further investigation into a single report made within the HSE, that led to 3.7m being recouped for the taxpayer, according to the Department of Public Expenditure.
The act provides special procedures to assist workers in reporting wrongdoing in the workplace and protects them from penalisation.
It provides a range of channels - both internal and external - for workers to make protected disclosures.
This ensures that if one channel fails to operate correctly, workers have access to alternative avenues to report their concerns.
This data shows that there were 173 reports made internally to public bodies and 989 reports made externally to a minister, senior officials or other "prescribed persons" or reports made to or passed on by Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner. Of these reports, 211 were stated to be breaches of EU Laws.
The report shows...
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