A Roscommon TD is calling for the Dáil schedule to be suspended to allow a debate on claims the Department of Health compiled dossiers on the family's of autistic children who have taken cases against the State.

Independent Deputy Denis Naughten has written to the Ceann Comhairle calling on the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to make a clear statement on the issue before the Easter recess.

Deputy Naughten is also seeking to find out if this practice was isolated to the case of these particular children and their legal case  or if this approach to gathering personal information was commonly used in other cases, including medical negligence cases.

He's described the claims in an RTE Investigates programme last week as 'disgusting'.

Yesterday the Data Protection Commissioner announced it was starting an inquiry into the handling of personal information at the Department of Health.