Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 7 December 2017

Public Accounts Committee

Comptroller and Auditor General 2016 Report
Chapter 16: Regularity of Social Welfare Payments
Chapter 17: Management of Social Welfare Overpayments
Chapter 18: Department Reviews of welfare Schemes, Social Welfare Appeals Process, Social Insurance Fund

9:00 am

Mr. John McKeon:

It is all held in Ireland. By law, it could be held in the United Kingdom because it is still within the European Union, but in the contract discussions we emphasised that it was our strong preference the data would be in Ireland. The various providers committed to that. All the data is owned by the Department so it has to be returned to the Department. They are acting as agents of the Department. Incidentally, I have been informed that nine companies tendered.