Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
370. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress in relation to confidential files found on top of a litter bin (details supplied); and if any conclusions have been drawn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19436/14]
View answerThe Department has conducted an investigation to determine how the files left the Department’s possession. The four files to which the Deputy refers were inadvertently misplaced on the afternoon of Friday 11th April last when an officer of the Department was conducting out of office visits to clients concerning their social welfare entitlements.
In an effort to retrieve the files the officer contacted all the clients whom he had visited that day but without success. The files were subsequently retrieved from the offices of the Independent Newspapers later that evening after they had been handed to those offices in by a concerned citizen.
Contact was made with three of the four clients who were advised about the nature of the data breach that occurred and each received an apology from the Department. Efforts are continuing to contact the fourth person who appears to have changed his address.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner was immediately informed about the incident.
The Department has guidelines in place which address the security measures to be followed when handling files on outdoor duties.
The Department takes its responsibilities in relation to data protection very seriously and every effort is made to ensure that clients’ personal data are held securely at all times. Staff members, particularly those engaged on outdoor duties, are regularly reminded of their responsibilities in this regard.
