Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Nov 1996

Vol. 472 No. 2

Written Answers. - Data Protection.

John O'Donoghue

Ceist:

29 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Welfare the action, if any, he is taking to address the serious concerns expressed by the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to the privacy of confidential information obtained by his Department in view of proposals published by him in his report on integrated social services systems. [22168/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The lack of integration between the various social services of an income related nature administered by Government Departments and State agencies has been a matter of concern for some time. This lack of integration results in duplication of effort by those agencies involved in administering income support schemes, for example, each agency carries out its own means test. This has been highlighted on a number of occasions by the Committee of Public Accounts and various commentators. Complaints have also been received from people regarding the number of times they have to provide the same information to different State agencies in order to receive their entitlements.

Earlier this year the Government approved the publication of the report of an interdepartmental committee on the development of an integrated social services system ISSS. This report sets out a framework for the development of an integrated approach to the administration, delivery, management and control of publicly funded income support services. The basic objective is to introduce greater coherence to the provision of these services. The development of the approach is being progressed within the Civil Service-wide strategic management initiative.

Issues in relation to data protection were highlighted in the ISSS report. These issues included the use and disclosure of revenue and social insurance, RSI, numbers and the control on the matching of data.

I met the Data Protection Commissioner and officials from his office and my Department with a view to progressing the proposals in the report and identifying those areas that might cause concern to him with reference to the exchange of information between the Department of Social Welfare and other Departments. Discussions are currently taking place at interdepartmental level and between the Data Protection Commissioner's officials and officials of my Department with a view to progressing the matter as quickly as possible and, in particular, identifying the extent to which legislation is necessary towards this end. As the Deputy will no doubt be aware, in the context of the ISSS report, it is envisaged to extend the use of the social services card currently in use by my Department across the public service to provide a better and more efficient service. The extension of the use of the social services card may entail the inclusion of a photograph on the card.

The Deputy will be aware of the requirements and obligations set out under the Data Protection Act to protect the privacy interests of individuals when information about them is processed. My Department conforms to the requirements set out in the Act and any proposals arising from the development of an integrated social services system will have regard to these requirements.

Any amendment of the Data Protection Act is the responsibility of the Minister for Equality and Law Reform. However, other options such as the possibility of making some degree of progress by amending other existing legislation and administrative procedures are being examined.