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Survey Name

Irish Disability Survey

Survey purpose and legal basis

The Irish Disability Survey is a voluntary survey, and collection will take place in 2028 (pilot between 2026 and 2027). In Irish law, it is carried out under Section 24 of the Statistics Act, 1993, which allows this Office to invite people to provide information on a voluntary basis.

The survey fulfils the need to obtain up to date data on disability prevalence as well as reliable data on disability impact, to inform public policies. As part of the survey, information is collected from participants about different areas of life. For example, their use of health services, education, transport and employment. Information on the constraints which impact participants daily lives, such as environmental or personal factors, are also collected to better understand societal barriers faced by disabled people. 

Who uses the results?

Our results are only ever made available in aggregate form to the public and we make sure that it is impossible for individuals or businesses to be identified. Anonymised survey information may be provided to other government departments, approved organisations, and approved researchers for statistical purposes only.

Is your personal data confidential and how long will the data be retained?

All information supplied to the CSO is treated as strictly confidential. The Statistics Act 1993 sets stringent confidentiality standards. Information collected may be used only for statistical purposes and no details that might be related to an identifiable person or business undertaking may be divulged to any other government department or body. Personal data you provide will be held for a maximum period of ten years, subject to survey requirements.

The sources and categories of your personal data, where the data has not been collected directly from you:

Personal data will be collected by way of online or direct interviews. Data about the person may also be collected from a parent/guardian(s), carer, or personal assistant if a proxy interview is required.

The CSO uses administrative data to complement or replace survey data, to make its statistical operations more efficient or to create new insights or products. This enables the CSO to reduce response burden and costs imposed by surveys, and to improve data quality and timeliness. The use of administrative data is governed by strictly controlled procedures in line with the Statistics Act and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). All data obtained by the CSO are used solely for statistical purposes and the results of the analysis will not in any way allow you or your family to be identified.

The CSO Data Matching Policy and a Register of Data Matching activities can be found here CSO Data Matching Policy.

Sources of variables being received by the CSO are outlined under categories of personal data above.

Administrative Data Sources used in IDS

Department of Social Protection

Child Benefit Data; Central Record System – Client Details, Payment and Employment Details; Long- and Short-Term Social Welfare Payments

Higher Education Authority

Higher Education (including Springboard) Course and Awards Data

Department of Education and Youth

Primary Student Database

Post Primary Student Database

Quality and Qualification Ireland

QQI Course and Awards Data

Office of Revenue Commissioners

Income Tax Forms 11/12 and PAYE Income Data

Local Authority HAP Shared Services Centre

Housing Assistance Payments

Health Services Executive

 

Drugs Payment Scheme Data

Long Term Illness Scheme Data

Primary Care Reimbursement Scheme

SOLAS

Apprenticeship Course and Awards Data

For further information on this survey, your Data Protection rights and how your data is used please contact:

For further information on this survey, please contact:

Aoife O’Neill, Statistician, by:

Post: Skehard Road, Cork, T12 X00E

Telephone: 021 453 5085

E-mail: aoife.oneill@cso.ie

Data Protection Information:

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the following rights:

  • The right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission. Contact details: Office of the Data Protection Commission, 21 Fitzwilliam Square South, Dublin 2, D02 RD28, Ireland.
  • The right to request access, rectification, erasure, restriction or to object to the processing of your personal data.

However, because your data is processed for statistical purposes these rights may be limited in accordance with Article 89 of the GDPR. This is due to the fact that the exercise of any of these rights may render impossible, or seriously impair, the achievement of the statistical processing and such restriction maybe necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation, you have the right to access, rectification, erasure, and restriction of processing in relation to your personal data. However, because your data is processed for statistical purposes these rights may be limited in accordance with Article 89 of the GDPR. This is due to the fact that the exercise of any of these rights may render impossible, or seriously impair, the achievement of the statistical processing and such restriction maybe necessary for the fulfilment of those purposes.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Data Protection Commission. It can be contacted by:

Post: Data Protection Commission, 6 Pembroke Row, Dublin 2, D02 X963, Ireland.

Online: DPC Online Portal

Central Statistics Office Data Protection Officer Contact Details:

Post: Skehard Road, Cork, T12 X00E

E-mail: dpo@cso.ie

Central Statistics Office Data Protection Officer Contact Details: