Ms Nessa Kelly:

I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to clarify the situation on data sharing. I know there has been a lot of discussion around it in recent weeks. To echo what Mr. Waide said, and to reassure members of the committee, data sharing is taking place. Those eight key variables are providing critical data to ensure that the investment in our roads is evidence- and data-led.

On the pathway forward, we have a solid plan in place and are proactively working with all the stakeholders involved to regularise the situation and make sure that we can resume sharing the wider data set. At present, as Mr. Waide referenced, we have eight key fields that are being shared. That includes the time and date of the collision, the road type and other factors needed by local authorities to make decisions. Going forward, we want to get to a sharing of the wider data set of up to 60 data fields.

Activities are under way as part of our plan and proposal. First and foremost, in the context of the GDPR and data protection legislation, we had to look at the rationale, necessity and proportionality of the data being shared. As Mr. Waide referenced, we came to the conclusion that a great deal of personal and special category data are included in the data set. Under data protection laws, we needed to ensure we had a sound legal basis for receiving that data, processing it and onward sharing it. That is where we identified the gap. For the plan we are putting in place around that, we reviewed each of the data fields we want to receive and that we need to share. We have examined and are now confident about the proportionality and the legal basis we will put forward for the sharing of that data. We have been working with all the stakeholders, including the Department of Transport and local authorities, through the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and the Road Management Office, RMO, to make sure we have identified what legislative vehicles we will use to drive those changes and the amendments to the legislation.

Since we have to change legislation and it is around personal data, we have to engage with the Data Protection Commission, DPC, on those changes. We are currently putting together an engagement pack for the DPC and are working closely with the Department and other stakeholders to progress that. The plan is to have that pack in place by the end of May. It will deal with all the concerns previously raised by the data protection officer, DPO, and demonstrate the activity that has been undertaken to ensure that data is being lawfully shared.

I welcome the comments from the Taoiseach and the Minister of State on their support for the legislative change and expediting its delivery over the coming months.