Residential Institutions Redress Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 October 2013

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

Questions (76)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

76. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Residential Institutions Redress Board's transfer of personal data to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board under section 24 of the 2012 Act, strictly to determine whether a person is eligible to make an application to the board and for no other purpose, is being disregarded by that board in so far as it has published, in the minutes of its 9 July 2013 meeting, information indicating that it intends to use the personal information received for informing its criteria and for other purposes, which amounts to misuse of the personal information referred to at section 24(2)(3) of the 2012 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43493/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Section 24 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012 provides that the Redress Board can furnish the RISF with the name, address and date of birth of recipients of awards. The Act stipulates that the information can only be used by the RISF to determine a person's eligibility to make an application to the Board. I understand that the RISF has been furnished with this information in relation to awards by the Redress Board. While I understand that the July RISF Board meeting was presented with a very preliminary analysis of the data, this analysis is being destroyed. Following discussions with my Department, the RISF has confirmed that the information received from the Redress Board will only be used for the purpose set out in the Act and that the information is held securely.