There has been contact between the Health Service Executive (HSE) North East region and a Co Meath family since their children were returned to them after being temporarily taken into care two months ago, it was claimed yesterday.
The health executive said there had been contact with the O'Hara family from Kells "through solicitors and mutually-agreed advocates".
The executive was responding to claims in the Dáil on Wednesday by Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte that no representative of the HSE had called Pádraig and Mary O'Hara since their children were returned from care seven weeks ago.
Mr Rabbitte claimed the family had been engaged in a struggle for basic services for their children, four of whom are autistic, from the HSE.
He said the family had been threatened with reprisals if they went public about their difficulties. After they went public their children were taken into care.
"More than seven weeks after the court ordered the immediate return of the children to their parents, no official at any level of the HSE has lifted a telephone to call the O'Haras, whose children had supposedly been at risk," Mr Rabbitte claimed.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil that Mr Rabbitte's claim would be investigated, but he said the HSE staff had consulted at some length before taking the children into care. He said they could not ignore "the threats that were made on the lives of the children".
Ms O'Hara said yesterday she could not comment on Mr Rabbitte's claim as she was busy looking after her children and the case was in the legal arena.