John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the procedures in place to ensure that personal data stored by her Department is secure. [30133/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Personal data held in my Department are managed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2003. My Department has developed a range of policies in relation to the handling of personal information both manual and electronic. These are set out in the acceptable usage policy in relation to ICT and the Department's records management protocol which has been issued to all staff. The protocol covers the management of records of a personal and /or a sensitive nature. Such records can be flagged as restricted files with limited access to specified named persons. Secure cabinets and store rooms are available for storage of such records. Procedures are in place for the management of computer backups and the secure storage of the requisite media in offsite locations. Prior to the disposal of obsolete equipment, all data are removed in line with best practice.

A number of initiatives aimed at improving security of data are currently underway including the encryption of laptop computers, encryption of data on removable media and improving end user awareness. My Department is participating in the Working Group on the Protection of Personal Data set up by the Department of Finance and will be implementing recommendations from this group.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 476: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of laptop computers, data storage devices and USB memory sticks that have been stolen or lost from her Department in 2007 and to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30148/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since 2007, there have been three (3) items of Departmental ICT equipment lost/stolen.