Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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88. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when his Department officials last met with the Data Protection Commissioner to ensure the highest standards are being met by the Department, and all agencies under its remit, in terms of compliance with data protection legislation. [14450/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a strong record in ensuring that the highest standards are being met in terms of compliance under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Data Protection Unit offers advice and support to staff in relation to contracts and agreements, Data Protection Impact Assessments, and Records of Processing Activities. Mandatory Data Protection training is provided to ensure that processing of personal data is conducted in accordance with the principles set out in GDPR, and that the rights of data subjects are exercised in compliance with the legislation.

These measures have resulted in a high level of awareness of Data Protection compliance requirements, as evidenced by the low number of data breaches reported. There were 6 data breaches reported in 2024, none of which met the threshold for being reported to the Data Protection Commissioner.

I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department last met with the Data Protection Commission in September 2024. The Údarás na Gaeltachta liaison division sought consultation with the office of the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill 2024, and to amendments to the Data Protection Act 2018 concerning elections to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

Officials from my Department would have ongoing engagement with the Data Protection Commissioner's office by phone and email as the need arises.