Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2015
32. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a full report on whether the decision to hand over personal details of council tenants to Irish Water, and the subsequent decision to legislate for An Post to hand over names and addresses to Irish Water, is in compliance with data protection legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15781/15]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Under the Water Services Acts 2007-2013, Irish Water has statutory powers to request its customers and certain specified persons or bodies to provide it with information so that Irish Water can perform its functions under these Acts, including the collection of data to develop its customer database. In particular, section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 provides Irish Water with the power to obtain information on its customers from other third parties as listed in the section, including a local authority, the Revenue Commissioners, the Private Residential Tenancies Board, the Property Services Regulatory Authority, the Local Government Management Agency, the Minister for Social Protection or any other person or body to be prescribed by the Minister. Prior to prescribing An Post under this provision, I was required to consult with the Data Protection Commissioner.
Irish Water is required to manage all personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. Irish Water has an on-going engagement with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner which has worked closely with Irish Water to agree the process for the capture, storage and usage of customer data.
