Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 July 2014

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Ceisteanna (300)

Jonathan O'Brien

Ceist:

300. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 8 July 2014, the reason the information requested is not available; if Caranua know the number of persons who applied for payments from the old Education Finance Board who subsequently applied for payments from Caranua; the reason providing the numbers alone would breach their data protection obligations, in view of the fact that Parliamentary Question No. 259 demonstrates that Caranua has contacted recipients of payments from the Education Finance Board. [31350/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

As explained to the Deputy in response to his question of 8 July, Caranua is a separate body from the now dissolved Education Finance Board. While Caranua performs certain functions associated with the Education Finance Board these are limited to matters relating to the finalisation of latter organisation's affairs consequential on its dissolution. Caranua does not collect the information in question, therefore it is not available and the issue of data protection does not thus arise. In the case of the category of persons referred to in the Deputy's question, the position is that it was necessary for Caranua to contact the persons concerned to clarify the position in regard to a funding commitment given to them by the Education Finance Board.