Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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406. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on the review of an invalidity pension application in respect of a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2967/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person referred to on 20 September 2023. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Notification issued to the person concerned on 11 December 2023 informing her of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.

Following the submission of further medical evidence, a deciding officer has reviewed entitlement to IP and, based on all information to hand, has decided that the original decision to refuse her claim remains unchanged. Notification issued to the person concerned on 15 January 2024 informing her of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of further review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity Pension is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy certain Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The person concerned has been awarded Invalidity Pension with effect from 19 October 2023 and will receive his first payment to his nominated bank account on 1 February 2024. All arrears due from 19 October 2023 to 31 January 2024 will also issue to his account on 1 February 2024. The person in question was notified of this decision on 19 January 2024.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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408. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will clarify whether the transfer of data and/or records from her Department that is transferred to other departments, State bodies and local authorities is in aggregated form or on an individual basis; and the reason the data and/or records are provided. [3089/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department shares personal data with a number of Government Departments, bodies, agencies, and local authorities, for the purposes which are set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and in other Acts.

The personal data shared may include identity data, such as Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), name, address, date of birth, as well data relating to life events such as date of birth and date of death. In addition, data on social welfare payments and data relating to a person's social insurance contributions are shared with the Revenue Commissioners.

The data shared may be aggregated or individual depending on the legislative provisions and purpose which relate to the data sharing activity, which provisions set out the purpose for which the data can be shared.

For example, data may be shared on an individual basis with a public body by way of an Application Programme Interface (API) for the purpose of sharing data in relation to a person's social welfare payment, or for the purpose of authenticating their identity when they use MyGovID to access an online service provided by that public body.

An example of data being shared on an aggregated basis would be the nightly file shared with the HSE for the purpose of updating the National Register of Individual Health Identifiers under the Health Identifiers Act 2014.

My Department has an effective data governance framework in place to ensure that it meets its obligations as a data controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 in respect of its data sharing activities. This includes putting in place specific Data Sharing Agreements in respect of the sharing of data with other Departments and agencies.