Written Answers Nos. 637-655
637. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of students who sought the SUSI grant on the grounds of estrangement from parents in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023. [45275/23]
View answerThe decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent student (i.e. assessed without reference to parental income and address) if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents from the previous 1st October. Otherwise, he/she would be assessed as a dependent student, i.e., assessed with reference to parental income and address.
Only in exceptional cases, where compelling evidence of irreconcilable estrangement from parents/guardians is provided, can candidates who are under 23 be assessed without reference to their parents/guardians income or address, Article 21(3) (b) of the Scheme refers.
The assessment of a case of estrangement is carefully considered to ensure there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the exceptional circumstances pertaining in such cases genuinely exists. The scheme does not stipulate precisely how an awarding authority satisfies itself that such circumstances prevail. This is to allow the awarding authority sufficient flexibility to assess the evidence of irrevocable estrangement in each individual case. The type of documentary evidence required is dependent on the applicant's individual circumstances.
The number of applicants who applied for a SUSI grant stating estrangement from 2016/17 to 2023/24. are set out below.
Please note that data from academic years prior to 2016/17 is not available and current year’s figures (2023/24) may change as processing is ongoing.
|
Academic Year |
2016/17 |
2017/18 |
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
|
Total Applications Received Stating Estrangement |
99 |
136 |
107 |
152 |
214 |
262 |
222 |
127 |
638. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how many instructors are employed by Cavan-Monaghan Educational Training Board to conduct cybersecurity associate level 6 apprenticeship training in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form. [45282/23]
View answerMy officials are compiling the information sought, which will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
639. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 716 of 3 October 2023, if he will provide detail on the nature of the data breaches suffered by his Department; the severity of the breaches; if all individuals whose information was compromised were notified of the breach; if the Data Protection Commission was notified of all data breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45337/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on 25 May 2018 and any personal data breaches since its introduction are dealt with under the Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Article 4 of the GDPR defines a data breach as “‘a breach of security leading to the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorised disclosure of, or access to, personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed”.
All of the data breaches that occurred in my Department since its establishment in 2020 are classified as unauthorised disclosure of personal data. Of the breaches that occurred in my Department since 2020, none were assessed to represent either a high or a medium risk. Two of them (40%) were classified as low risk, and the remaining three (60%) as presenting no risk.
The Data breaches which occurred in my Department were reported to the Data Protection Commission and/or the affected data subjects in line with the requirements of the legislation.
|
Year |
No of Breaches Reported to Dept. Data Protection Unit |
Reports Reported to Data Protection Commission |
High Risk |
Low Risk |
Medium Risk |
No Risk |
|
2020 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2021 |
1 |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
|
2022 |
2 |
1 |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
1/1/23 – 16/10/23 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
640. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the €67 million announced for apprenticeships in the Budget Expenditure Report (2024), how much of this comprises unspent funds from the €30 million that was announced for apprenticeship in Budget Expenditure Report (2023); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45347/23]
View answerThe €67m allocation for apprenticeship set out in the Budget 2024 Expenditure Report, published on 10 October last, includes an allocation of €57m of core funding and €10m temporary funding to invest in the apprenticeship system and support the continued growth of the craft apprenticeship system.
Based on current forecasts, the €30m allocation for apprenticeship in Budget 2023 referred to by the Deputy, is on track to be spent in 2023. This funding was allocated on a temporary basis in 2023 and following the Budget decisions for 2024 it is being allocated into the expenditure baseline.
641. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the €400 thousand bursary announced in the Budget Expenditure Report (2024) for apprenticeships from underrepresented areas; the qualifying criteria; how many awards this equates too; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45348/23]
View answerI am delighted to have secured a further €400,000 towards social inclusion measures for apprenticeship. This builds on the €100,000 funding allocated for such measures in Estimates 2023.
As the Deputy knows, one of the five overarching objectives of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is "Apprenticeship for All". That is, ensuring that the profile of the apprenticeship population more closely reflects the profile of the general population. The Plan promotes general access, diversity, and inclusion in apprenticeship by offering targeted supports to encourage participation from under-represented groups including gender diversity, people with disabilities, and members of socio-economic groups of disadvantage.
The National Apprenticeship Office increases the visibility of under-represented groups in apprenticeship literature and promotional material to reflect the participation and positive experience of people from all backgrounds and communities, as well as the availability of assistive supports.
The additional funding of €400,000 for a bursary for apprentices from under-represented groups is proposed to support apprenticeship learners in all ETBs and at TUS Limerick and Athlone, MTU, ATU Galway and TU Dublin.
The specific details of the targets and interventions linked to the funding are informed by the Access & Inclusion Sub-Committee of the National Apprenticeship Alliance. This helps to ensure that the voice of under-represented groups is integral to the further development of the apprenticeship system. The Sub-Committee will be building on this year’s scheme to ensure the best use of the substantially increased funding in 2024.
642. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his announcement that PhDs will receive a €3,000 increase in their stipend, if he can confirm that this applies to institutional scholarships; if the funding for this will come from the additional €60 million in core funding announced in Budget Expenditure Report (2024); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45349/23]
View answerUnder Budget 2024, the PhD stipend provided by the competitive funding agencies under my Department, Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish Research Council, is being increased to €22,000 per student per annum for their approximately 3,000 stipend awardees. This builds on the increase that I secured in Budget 2023 and demonstrates strong and substantial progress on this issue. This will take effect from January. There are in the region of 2,000 other PhD students who receive institutional scholarships of varying levels from their host higher education institution. These are financed primarily from the core funding provided to each institution. This is a matter for each institution to consider.
643. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his announcement of an additional €4.1 million to "enhance the number of places" in GEM for EU students as part of Budget Expenditure Report (2024), can he outline the estimated number of places this equates to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45350/23]
View answerOn 12th July 2022 the Minister for Health and I announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years.
The agreement reached with the medical schools begin with an additional 60 EU students in September 2022, climbing to 120 in September 2023, and up to 200 by 2026.
Minister Donnelly and I committed at that time to prioritising funding an expansion on an equal basis, together with moving the funding of existing medicine places to a more sustainable basis. Moving to a more sustainable funding basis is required to reduce medical schools' reliance on fees from non EU students.
We have followed through on that commitment this year with continued enhanced levels of funding from both departments to fund these places at a more sustainable rate.
The July 2022 agreement included Graduate Entry Medicine additional places. To date an additional 10 graduate entry places, 5 in 2022 and another 5 in 2023 have been created, with the other 110 places on direct entry programmes.
This marked a significant expansion in the number of places available to students applying through the CAO system. It increases the opportunities for students to progress to study medicine in Ireland and to help us build our talent pipeline.
644. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his progress on the roll-out of graduate entry dentistry across selected Irish universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45351/23]
View answerMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services.
There is no quota placed on dental courses by my Department, and therefore the places offered and the modality through which they are offered are a matter for the higher education institutions, in line with their autonomy. However due to the high level of practical work involved there can be material constraints on the number of students that can be accepted onto dentistry courses.
Graduate entry programmes are a pathway for degree holders who want to pursue a career, typically on an accelerated programme.
For all regulated professions, the higher education institutions work with the relevant professional regulators to ensure their programmes meet relevant standards for professional accreditation.
The Free Fees Initiative pays the tuition fees of eligible students undertaking their first full time undergraduate programme. The Free Fees Initiative does not meet fees in respect of students who are completing a second undergraduate degree, which by its nature any Graduate Entry programme is.
The Higher Education Authority recently undertook an Expressions of Interest process to identify options for developing substantial medium term additional capacity in a range of priority healthcare disciplines including Dentistry. In June the Minister for Health and I announced details of the potential options identified under this process. I continue to engage closely on this matter with Government colleagues to advance the process with investment to be considered in the context of an expected upcoming review of Departmental National Development Plan allocations.
In this context, my officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health on determining the longer term skills needs of the healthcare services, and the role which the further and higher education sector can play in meeting those skills needs.
I understand that the Department of Health is commencing work on a workforce scoping project - skills assessment across the oral healthcare sector.
645. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grants and funding streams available to assist community centres with the maintenance and upgrade of their facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44701/23]
View answerThis Government recognises the important role that community centres play in community life in Ireland, particularly in bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Enhancement Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the Community Centres Investment Fund which provides a specific funding line to support centres.
The focus of the 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. Over €45.8 million has been committed to this important refurbishment work.
This year the focus of the Fund moved to new builds. I want to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs. In March, I was delighted to announce a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres.
This measure will target areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The minimum grant funding available is €1 million with the maximum being €6 million. The deadline for receipt of applications has passed and these applications are currently being assessed by my Department. It is expected that successful projects will be announced in quarter one of 2024.
646. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any of the recommendations from the interdepartmental working group which has been examining issues under the Control of Dogs Act (details supplied) have been implemented and if she will provide details on the recommendation on signage of the by-laws on dogs in parks. [44935/23]
View answerMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. As the Deputy will be aware, animal welfare and microchipping is under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). My Department is working with DAFM to co-ordinate efforts in the area of dog control across government.
In late 2022, Minister Mc Conalogue was tasked by the then Taoiseach, now Tánaiste Micheál Martin to lead a cross-government review of legislation regarding dogs. I met with Minister Mc Conalogue on Monday 9th January and we requested officials to convene a working group on the control of dogs’ issue. This group, which was chaired by DAFM, held a number of meetings and produced a report in March 2023. The report, which made 15 recommendations, has been published on the DAFM website, along with the minutes of the meetings of the group.
In relation to the recommendations assigned to my Department, I am currently considering increases to on-the-spot fines for offences under the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014 which requires the drafting of a statutory instrument. The centralised national database of registered Dog Breeding Establishments was put in place and is now available on Gov.ie.
My officials are reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, taking account of recommendations from, inter alia, the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Food, Agriculture and the Marine, consultation with stakeholders and experts in the field, and the outcomes of the public consultation undertaken by my Department in 2019. Updates to the existing legislation are required and it is proposed that amendments will be made through a Control of Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishment Miscellaneous Bill.
Items under consideration include the possibility for dog control notices, the inclusion of additional breeds in the restricted dogs list and updates to definitions contained in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. However, the issues raised are wide ranging and complex and require in depth analysis and consultation to ensure amendments are not just robust, fit for purpose and implementable but that they also deliver the best outcomes for communities and for dogs themselves. Signage in relation to by-laws is a matter for local authorities.
It is my intention to establish a stakeholder group on the control of dogs issues in the coming weeks, which will also be tasked with consideration of the types of changes that may be necessary. I look forward to engaging with stakeholders on all of the issues of concern, and to working with colleagues across Government to ensure the Working Group's recommendations are implemented.
647. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the evaluation of the Leader Local Development Strategies for the 2023-2027 programme; when the funding allocations are expected to be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44990/23]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
The process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is ongoing at present and the Local Development Strategies, which were submitted by the applicant LAGs in July, are currently being assessed.
A number of LAGs have been approved to date to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER programme and my Department is now focusing on completing the selection of the remaining LAGs with a view to completing this process by the end of year to ensure a smooth transition from the 2014-2020 Programme.
The funding allocations for the 2023-2027 period for the LEADER sub-regional areas were announced in October last year and total €180 million. In addition to the €70 million allocated for the 2021- 2022 period this brings the total LEADER allocation for the 2021 – 2027 period to €250 million, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The funding will be made available to the selected LAG(s) once the Local Development Strategy selection process is completed in the relevant sub-regional area.
LEADER has been operating very successfully in Ireland for over 30 years now and I am confident that the new LEADER programme will continue to deliver for rural communities all across the country.
648. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town centre first policy in Bailieborough; to detail the plan that has been developed; the funding committed and the expected completion date of the works. [45058/23]
View answerThe Town Centre First (TCF) policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development.
The Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory Group for the policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group seeks to oversee the delivery of the policy and ensures there is clear stakeholder visibility in relation to implementation. The Group met in December 2022, April 2023, and September 2023 and plans to meet again in early 2024.
The establishment of the National Implementation Office is key to the success of the policy. The Office supports Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation at a local level and coordinates stakeholder engagement. This structure is in place within the Local Government Management Association and Department officials are in ongoing contact with the Office.
TRO’s are continuing to be appointed in local authorities, in which they will support the establishment and ongoing work of Town Teams, providing technical, communications, administrative and project management support to Town Teams and supporting access to funding.
Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. This includes my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund where funding of €115 million was allocated in the Fourth Call for regeneration projects across rural towns, and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is currently open for applications with a deadline of 10th November 2023.
The TCF policy is supporting the development of TCF Plans which will help rural towns identify viable projects in their area. These plans are being completed by the Town Team in the area and supported by the appointed TROs and the local authority. Each local authority was allocated funding of €100,000 in order to develop a TCF Plan. Nine of these plans have been completed to date, with the further seventeen to be completed by the 17th November 2023.
The TCF Plan for Bailieborough, Co. Cavan is due for completion this month and will be shared with the Department at that point.
649. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town centre first policy in Carrickmacross; to detail the plan that has been developed; the funding committed, and the expected completion date of the works. [45059/23]
View answerThe Town Centre First (TCF) policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development.
The Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory Group for the policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group seeks to oversee the delivery of the policy and ensures there is clear stakeholder visibility in relation to implementation. The Group met in December 2022, April 2023, and September 2023 and plans to meet again in early 2024.
The establishment of the National Implementation Office is key to the success of the policy. The Office supports Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation at a local level and coordinates stakeholder engagement. This structure is in place within the Local Government Management Association and Department officials are in ongoing contact with the Office.
TRO’s are continuing to be appointed in local authorities, in which they will support the establishment and ongoing work of Town Teams, providing technical, communications, administrative and project management support to Town Teams and supporting access to funding.
Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. This includes my Department's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund where funding of €115 million for regeneration projects across rural towns was announced in late 2022, and the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is currently open for applications 2023. The deadline for local authorities to apply under the 2023 Scheme is 10th November.
This TCF policy is also supporting the development of TCF Plans which will help rural towns identify viable projects in their area. These plans are being completed by the Town Team in the area and supported by the appointed TROs and the local authority. Each local authority was allocated funding of €100,000 in order to develop a TCF Plan. Nine of these plans have been completed to date, with the further seventeen to be completed by the 17th November 2023.
The TCF Plan for Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan is due for completion by 17 November and will be shared with my Department at that point.
650. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if projects in Cavan are to benefit from the Building Acquisition Measure 2023 and if so, to provide details of the project and amount to be received. [45060/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Under the 2022 scheme, I introduced the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres.
The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of TVRS. Funding was again made available under this Measure in 2023.
Cavan County Council was approved funding under this measure to purchase two buildings in county Cavan. The funding draw down documentation for one of these building is currently with the Department for assessment in advance of issuing payment, and my Department is currently in consultation with the local authority regarding the funding draw down documentation for the other.
Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the purchases, details of the approved applications will be released when the details of the sales have been concluded by local authorities, and assessment of the payment draw down is completed by my Department.
651. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if projects in south County Monaghan are to benefit from the Building Acquisition Measure 2023; and if so, to provide details of the project and amount to be received. [45061/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Under the 2022 scheme, I introduced the Building Acquisition Measure (BAM) in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres.
The purpose of this measure was to support local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes in line with the aims of TVRS. Funding was again made available under this Measure in 2023.
Monaghan County Council was approved funding under this measure to purchase 2 buildings in Co Monaghan. My Department is currently in consultation with the local authority regarding the submission of the funding draw down documentation.
Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the purchases, details of the approved applications will be released when the details of the sales have been concluded by local authorities and assessment of the payment draw down is completed by my Department.
652. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of contracts awarded to suppliers to fit monuments and or plaques in Clare County Council graveyards in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45160/23]
View answerUnder the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as burial boards, local authorities are responsible for the management, regulation and control of burial grounds in their functional areas.
As this therefore is an operational matter for local authorities, I have no information on the number of contracts awarded in connection with the fitting of monuments or plaques in local authority graveyards.
653. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the men’s shed sustainability grant of €2,000 is still available from her Department to assist with the running costs of the sheds and acquiring material for developing skills for the shedders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45199/23]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, depending on the works being completed.
Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country with running costs, such as electricity and insurance bills. This fund is now closed and the individual grants of up to €2,000 were distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA).
Separately, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) has provided supports to 281 Men’s Sheds since 2018, with small grants totalling over €198,000 awarded to 119 Men’s Sheds. This support is still available through SICAP.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration commenced on 1 July 2022 and will operate until 30 June 2025. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association has been allocated total funding of €243,158 over the three year period of the scheme.
And finally, Men's Sheds were eligible to apply for funding under the Community Support Fund (CSF) that was announced last November under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). The €10 million CSF was set up to help small community groups with their energy/running costs but also to provide funding for small capital works projects. The CSF is now closed and details of successful Men’s Sheds is available at www.gov.ie/DRCD. Since 2018, over €2.2 million in funding was allocated to Men’s Sheds under the CEP.
Groups are encouraged to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN) to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
654. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of new approved participants in the senior alert scheme for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [45237/23]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the Scheme towards the purchase, by a registered community-based organisation, of a personal alarm or pendant.
The following table provides the approved participants in the scheme for the years in question.
|
Year |
Approved Participants |
|
2021 |
14,255 |
|
2022 |
15,577 |
|
2023 to end of September |
12,753 |
655. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 731 of 3 October 2023, if she will provide detail on the nature of the data breaches suffered by her Department; the severity of the breaches; if all individuals whose information was compromised were notified of the breach; if the Data Protection Commission was notified of all data breaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45342/23]
View answerMy Department was established in July 2017. Details of data breaches which occurred in each year between July 2017 and 2023 to date, and the numbers which were reported to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) are set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Number of data breach incidents |
Number of breaches reported to the DPC |
|
2017 (July – Dec 2017) |
0 |
0 |
|
2018 |
1 |
1 |
|
2019 |
0 |
0 |
|
2020 |
2 |
1 |
|
2021 |
1 |
0 |
|
2022 |
5 |
1 |
|
2023 (to date) |
0 |
0 |
In terms of the nature of the breaches, in all cases the incident related to information disclosed in error to incorrect recipients. All data breaches are reported to and assessed by the Department’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) in accordance with guidance issued by the Data Protection Commission.
In terms of severity, the majority of the breaches identified were determined to be minor and unlikely to result in a risk to data subjects and were handled in accordance with the Department's Data Protection Policy. A total of 3 data breaches were deemed notifiable to the DPC and my Department acted accordingly. The remainder were deemed low risk and therefore not required to be reported to the DPC.
In the case of each incident immediate remedial action was undertaken to rectify the breach and to put in place measures to prevent re-occurrence.
