Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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442. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a person (details supplied) with their personal records. [61865/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Commission of Investigation received records relating to the period 1922 to 1998 from a number of Institutions and sources as part of its investigation. On 28 February 2021, following the dissolution of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, my Department became the data controller for all the personal data contained in the records that transferred from the Commission.

While I am not in a position to comment on the particular circumstances of the individual referred to, my officials will be in contact with the person directly to assist them.

Individuals may make a subject access request to my Department in respect of records in the Mother and Baby Homes archive relating to them.

A data controller is required to respond to a subject access request without undue delay and at the latest within one month of receiving and validating the request. Given the sensitive nature of the personal data, my Department must validate the identity of every requester seeking their personal data. My Department engages with data subjects to request proof of identity, in the form of a scanned copy of a passport, driving license, or other photo ID. This is a reasonable measure for a data controller to take, to satisfy itself that the requestor is who they say they are, and that the personal data is being provided to the person it relates to. Once a SAR is received by my Department, the identity of the requestor is verified and the SAR is then processed. The deadline for responding to SARs commences from the time the identity of the requestor is verified.

I continue to be committed to vindicating the rights of each data subject in respect of their personal data.