asked the Minister for Defence the number of citizens about whom information is retained on computer in his Department; and if information so recorded is used by his Department for any other purpose.
Written Answers. - Computer Information.
56.
Particulars of approximately 36,500 persons are retained on computer by my Department for payroll and pension purposes. The information retained on computer is not used for any other purpose.
63.
asked the Minister for the Public Service the number of citizens about whom information is retained on computer in his Department; and if information so recorded is used by his Department for any other purpose.
The Central Data Processing Services (CDPS) of my Department operate a large computer facility which is used by a number of Departments, health boards, voluntary hospitals and other public service agencies. Information retained on the CDPS computer is the property of the Department or agency which inputs the data and is not accessed or used by my Department except in so far as it is processed for the owners. Most data held on the CDPS computer is processed via telephone links without any involvement by CDPS. In these instances, my Department do not, and do not need to, know how many citizens are involved. Such details can be obtained only from the owners of the data. Personnel information in relation to some 30,000 civil servants is held on the computer for my Department as owner but this information is not used for any other purpose. The CDPS, acting as agents for the Department of the Environment, transfer data on motor vehicle registrations to the Garda but also do not need to know the number of citizens involved.