Over the past decade, government departments in Ireland have experienced a total of 6,885 data breaches, with the Department of Social Protection accounting for more than half of these incidents.
Of the total, 3,637 breaches occurred within the Department of Social Protection alone, significantly surpassing other departments.
The Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 862 and 757 breaches, respectively, reflecting a concerning trend in the management of sensitive information.
The figures were released after Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín raised the issue in a series of parliamentary questions.
The majority of these breaches were categorized as low-risk events, and were not reported to the Data Protection Commission in line with DPC guidance.
Human error, such as emails or postal communications sent to unintended recipients, was cited as the primary cause of these data breaches. Though less frequent, incidents involving lost or stolen devices and cyberattacks also contributed to the tally.
Aontú Leader Tóibín expressed deep concern over the pattern.
“The fact that the majority of these breaches relate to the Departments of Social Protection, Justice, and Foreign Affairs is concerning,” Tóibín stated, highlighting that these departments handle some of the nation’s most sensitive data.
In its response, the Department of Social Protection clarified that most of its breaches involved accidental disclosures where information was unintentionally sent to third parties due to misaddressed emails or mail.
It further emphasized its commitment to data protection, noting that a comprehensive set of policies, standards, and guidelines govern its systems.