Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In terms of the Department of Social Protection's main business, people have a PPS for social welfare purposes. Where other organisations use a PPS number, that usage is based in law, and I can get the details of that for the Deputy. However, in regard to Irish Water, my understanding is that it has requested PPS numbers to verify that people are entitled to allowances, particularly with respect to children. As the Deputy knows, there is a provision for extra allowances. The actual use of PPS numbers by Irish Water for any other purpose is not permitted. That is the sole purpose for which it can use the PPS number.

I understand people would be concerned about privacy and in that context, the Department of Social Protection works extremely closely with the Data Protection Commissioner who has a responsibility to oversee this important area. The Deputy will be aware of a recent court case where certain credit unions gave people's PPS numbers to inquiry agencies and they made certain inquiries, which they were not entitled to do, in regard to PPS numbers, and the courts dealt quite severely with that matter. All of this is legislated for by law.

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