Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if departmental policies relating to the keeping of information on laptop computers used by members of the school inspectorate were followed by a school inspector from whose car a laptop computer was stolen (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19483/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his departmental policies relating to the keeping of information on laptop computers used by members of the school inspectorate; if such policies were updated following the theft of a laptop computer from a school inspector's car (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19484/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 411: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the laptop computer reported stolen from a school inspector's car (details supplied) contained details of individual teachers, pupils, schools or parents; if so, if all such persons were contacted and informed of this; the action that was taken subsequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19485/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 412: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the theft of a laptop computer from a school inspector's car (details supplied) was reported to the Data Protection Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19486/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if departmental policies relating to the keeping of information on laptop computers were followed by the individual or individuals who had use of a laptop computer stolen from his Department's offices in Marlborough Street (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19487/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his departmental policies relating to the keeping of information on laptop computers used by departmental staff; if such policies were updated following the theft of a laptop computer from his Department's offices in Marlborough Street (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19488/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the laptop computer reported stolen from his Department's offices in Marlborough Street (details supplied) contained details of individual teachers, pupils, schools or parents; if so, if all such persons were contacted and informed of this; the action that was taken subsequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19489/08]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the theft of a laptop computer from his Department's offices in Marlborough Street (details supplied) was reported to the Data Protection Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19490/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 to 416, inclusive, together.

There are a range of measures in place to safeguard personal data held by various business units in my Department. My Department has produced a set of guidelines for all staff which sets out the issues to be considered when collecting, storing and processing personal data. These guidelines were approved by the Data Protection Commissioner in 2007. The guidelines were circulated to all staff in the Department and are also available on the Department's Intranet. Staff are made aware of their obligations under the Data Protection Acts, 1988 and 2003 at induction training courses. In addition, my Department is currently rolling out records management training courses to staff, part of which covers data protection issues.

My Department's 'Computer and Network Usage Policy', which was in place at the time of these thefts, covers the use of laptops as well as desktop computers. The officials who were using the laptops that were stolen reported the laptop thefts to the Department's Personnel Section and IT Unit as required by the policy. My Department is in the process of finalising a 'Policy for use of laptops and other portable electronic devices' and this will be issued to all staff shortly. The laptop stolen from the Department's offices in Marlborough Street did not contain personal data.

The laptop which was stolen from an Inspector's car contained draft reports on quality and standards in the classrooms of teachers on probation. As this laptop was used by the Inspector for occasional work only, an exact list of the draft reports on the laptop at the time it was stolen is not available. However, it is estimated that there were approximately ten reports at various stages of drafting on the laptop when it was stolen. While the draft reports contained the name of the teacher and the roll no. of the school where they were teaching, and certain information in relation to the performance of teaching duties, the reports did not contain personal information such as date of birth, home address etc. The reporting template provides for inclusion of PPSN but it is understood that this was not included on any draft reports contained on the laptop. The stolen laptops had a dual level of password protection. The Department did not notify the Data Protection Commissioners of the theft of this laptop given the type and volume of information involved.

A third laptop was stolen from the home of an Inspector in 2007. The theft was reported to the Department's Personnel Unit and IT Unit. The laptop did not contain personal data.