Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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532. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the changes he has made to allow access by persons to their own data held by his Department and bodies under its aegis following the introduction of GDPR; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31477/18]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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533. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the staffing complement and resources of his Department's data protection officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31501/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 532 and 533 together.

The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation has given individuals greater control over their data by setting out additional and more clearly defined rights regarding the collection and processing of personal data by organisations, including Government Departments.

My Department has highlighted these rights on its website, www.drcd.gov.ie, and has also published its Data Protection Policy. No staff have been allocated to the Data Protection Officer on a full-time basis at this time, however, staff across my Department are available to assist with data protection issues and with requests for access, when required. The allocation of staff to data protection issues will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Details of how to make a request have also been published on our website, along with a Subject Access Request form that can be used by persons wishing to access their data.