Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason persons must provide their PPSN when taking part in workshops that are part funded by an education and training board; if this information is shared with other organisations or agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44969/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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A key aspect of the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2014-2019 is to ensure that good data is available to support planning and funding of effective and high quality programmes.

SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) have developed a new FET data system, entitled the ‘Programme and Learner Support System’ (PLSS), to provide a single platform for information on Further Education and Training (FET) courses and the profile of learners.  PLSS comprises a national FET course calendar, a national FET programme database and a national FET learner database.  PLSS supports evidence based planning, co-ordination and funding of FET provision.  The public facing element of the PLSS,www.fetchcourses.ie, which was launched last year, provides information on over 6,000 FET courses that are available nationwide and facilitates online application for courses.

The PLSS has been fully implemented since January of this year.  The PPSN is used as the unique identifier of participants within the PLSS. SOLAS is a ‘specified body’ under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 and is legally permitted to collect PPS numbers.  The register of PPSN users on the DEASP website includes SOLAS and confirmation by SOLAS that it complies with the eight rules of Data Protection.  SOLAS has procedures to ensure personal data is kept secure.  Measures such as physical security and  restricted access in the case of physical records and firewalls, user access controls, passwords, encryption and other appropriate technologies in relation to electronic records are in place to ensure full compliance.

PLSS was developed in full compliance with the Data Protection Acts, 1988 and 2003.

In relation to the sharing of the data, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) transfers appropriate client data when it refers clients to the ETBs for participation in FET courses.  These referrals necessitate the transfer of client data by the DEASP when making the initial referral to the ETBs and subsequently the provision of feedback to DEASP on their client participation in FET courses (e.g. acceptance, attendance, completion, etc.). The DEASP may share FET learner data with SOLAS and the ETBs on the basis of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 2005 which provides for the exchange of information between the DEASP and specified bodies. 

The PPSN is a mandatory requirement for QQI certification and is shared with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) in respect of learners on certified programmes for the purpose of the issue of awards.  Learner data is also shared with my Department in the context of the annual October returns which are used to inform funding and the allocation of teachers.  All learners who register on the PLSS acknowledge that they are aware that their data will be shared with named bodies.