Inspections in Early Learning and Care settings Data Sharing Agreement

The Data Sharing Agreement Process

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Department of Education (DE) Inspectorate have entered into a Data Sharing Agreement under the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019.

The Data Sharing and Governance Act (DSGA) Framework for sharing data builds upon the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019 by setting out a common set of practices for all Public Bodies to follow when they wish to use the Act as their legal basis for sharing data. Under the Framework, Data Sharing Agreements between public bodies for the purpose of sharing personal data has been made available for public consultation for a period of 28 days and was then reviewed by the Data Sharing and Governance Board. The Data Sharing Agreement has now been executed.

What the Data Sharing Agreement is about

The purpose of the Data Sharing Agreement is to facilitate the sharing of data between the DCEDIY and the DE to enable the DE Inspectorate to carry out inspections of the quality of educational provision in early learning and care settings on behalf of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The DE requires details of early learning and care settings funded by the DCEDIY in order to schedule and carry out inspections of those services.

A previous data sharing agreement was in place between DCEDIY and DE under the Data Protection Acts 1988 through to 2018. However, with the commencement of Section 6 of the Data Sharing and Governance Act 2019, a new data sharing agreement was required.

It is important to note that no practices in the sharing of this data are changing under this updated agreement.