Vol. 537 No. 1
43 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if the implementation of the employment action plan in so far as it concerns his Department is on sound legal grounds, in view of fears that the exchange of information between his Department and agencies is not covered by the Data Protection Act, 1988. [15279/01]
My Department collects and holds data for the purpose of the effective administration of the social welfare system and related programmes.
The national employment action plan is operated by FÁS in conjunction with my Department. The plan which was launched in September 1998 aims to combat the drift into long-term unemployment by linking unemployed people to work and further training opportunities on offer from FÁS as they pass certain thresholds on the live register. It extends and places on a more formal basis arrangements for co-operation between my Department and FÁS which have always been a feature of the unemployment support schemes.
Data is transferred on an ongoing basis to FÁS, which is involved in training and the provision of employment and training opportunities, in respect of individuals who are in receipt of unemployment payments from my Department.
In my Department's view the transfer of data to FÁS in the implementation of the employment action plan is not precluded by any provisions of the Data Protection Act, 1988.
