Data Protection

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2015

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Questions (103)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

103. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is aware that a significant data breach occurred within her Department with regard to a person (details supplied); if she is aware that as a consequence of the mistake, child benefit was discontinued for this person who is a lone parent; that due to the nature of the breach other significant negative consequences for this person and their child may have arisen; the steps her Department has taken to rectify the situation; if the Data Protection Commissioner has been made aware of the breach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28190/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The issue referred to arose from information received from another State Agency in relation to an individual. When they matched the information an incorrect Personal Public Service Number was assigned and the information was passed to child benefit section for attention.

As a result, a payment stop was placed on the child benefit claim from July 2015. Once the person concerned made child benefit section aware of the error contained in the data, the stop was immediately lifted and payment for July was issued on the due date.

The Department has acknowledged the error in a letter to the person concerned and apologises unreservedly for the unnecessary distress caused. The Department has not contacted the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to this case as there was no data breach in DSP in this instance and no personal data was put at risk of unauthorised disclosure.