Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
754. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocols in place to ensure city and county councils respond to TD representations in relation to the housing adaptation grant; the alternative mechanisms in place to ensure a response is issued if none is being issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40923/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraRepresentations from Oireachtas members to local autorities are subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act, 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations, 2003 (S.I. No. 274 of 2003). The Regulations include provisions in relation to correspondence with Oireachtas members by local authorities, arrangements to facilitate access to information, and communication generally by local authorities with Oireachtas members.
Representations made on behalf of individual constituents in relation to housing adaptation grants or other personal matters are also subject to the general requirements that apply under the Data Protection Act 2018, which is under the remit of my colleague Ms Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Justice. The 2018 Act confers rights on individuals in relation to the privacy of their personal data as well as responsibilities on those persons or bodies holding and processing such data.
The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) published detailed guidance for elected representatives in December 2018 and this is available on the DPC website at the link below:
www.dataprotection.ie/en/news-media/latest-news/dpc-publishes-guidance-elected-representatives
This guidance was created taking account of the DPC’s direct engagement, at the request of members, with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in July 2018.
Local authorities are independent statutory bodies with their own governance and management structures. The implementation and day-to-day compliance with both the data protection obligations and the representations from Oireachtas members regulations is a matter for each individual local authority.
