My Department shares personal data with a number of Government Departments, bodies, agencies, and local authorities, for the purposes which are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and in other Acts.
The personal data shared may include identity data, such as Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), name, address, date of birth, as well data relating to life events such as date of birth and date of death. In addition, data on social welfare payments and data relating to a person's social insurance contributions are shared with the Revenue Commissioners.
The data shared may be aggregated or individual depending on the legislative provisions and purpose which relate to the data sharing activity, which provisions set out the purpose for which the data can be shared.
These purposes include:
i) improving efficiencies and customer service across the public service,
ii) assisting public bodies, including my Department, in carrying out their statutory functions, including the control of schemes operated by those bodies,
iii) improving data quality across the public service,
iv) the allocation of PPSNs,
v) the authentication of identity,
vi) to meet EU obligations in the area of law enforcement.
Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 lists the specified bodies which are authorised to use the PPSN when carrying out their statutory functions and with which the Department can share personal data in relation to identity. Other provisions in that Act provide for the sharing of data for other purposes. In addition, other Acts provide a legal basis for sharing of personal data between the Department and other bodies.
My Department has an effective data governance framework in place to ensure that it meets its obligations as a data controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of its data sharing activities. This includes putting in place specific Data Sharing Agreements in respect of the sharing of data with other Departments and agencies.
