Who we are and why do we require your information?
Laois County Council seeks to promote the economic, social and cultural development of the Council and in doing so contribute significantly to improving the quality of life of the people of County Laois.
The delivery of high quality services, tailored to meet the needs of all our customers, remains one of Laois County Council’s core objectives and is included in our Corporate Plan. This quality service includes not only the level and quality of service given to our customers, but also the quality of our decision-making processes, the efficiency and effectiveness of our corporate operations, standard of our facilities and our ability to adapt in an ever-changing environment.
In order to provide the most effective and targeted range of services to meet the needs of the citizens, communities and businesses of the county we will be required to collect, process and use certain types of information about people and organisations. Depending on the service being sought or provided the information sought may include ‘personal data’ as defined by the Data Protection Acts and by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and may relate to current, past and future service users; past, current and prospective employees; suppliers; and members of the public who may engage in communications with our staff. In addition, staff may be required, from time to time, to collect, process and use certain types of personal data to comply with regulatory or legislative requirements.
Data Protection Policy
Laois County Council has a detailed Data Protection Policy which goes in to more detail as how we as a public body are committed to ensuring the security of any personal data you provide to us.
Our policy is available for viewing here.
CCTV Policy
Laois County Council has a detailed CCTV Policy.
Our policy is available for viewing here.
What personal data do we need?
The types of personal data you may be asked to supply can be categorised as follows,
- Contact details to allow for efficient communication
- Details of your personal circumstances which you are required by law to supply as part of your application for a service offered by Laois County Council
- Your own financial details which you are required by law to supply as part of your application for a service offered by Laois County Council
Contact Details
In order to communicate with you will be asked for contact details. You do not have to provide all contact details but providing more, such as email, phone, address, makes it easier to communicate.
Details of Personal Circumstances
If you wish to apply for a particular service from the local authority you will be asked for a varying amount of personal details specific to you and your family, in order to support your application. Laois County Council will set out the information we require in a series of separate and distinct application forms relevant to each service. Each service/business unit which will ask you for personal information will also provide you with a detailed privacy notice specific to that service which will detail the following,
- Detail the specific and legitimate purpose for which the personal data is being sought,
- The legal basis under which the information is required to be supplied,
- Detail of the other organisations/bodies/entities that we will be required to share data with, or obtain data from, in order to provide the required service,
- Details of how your personal data will be kept safe from unauthorised or unlawful processing,
- Details of the period for which your personal data will be retained by Laois County Council and what will happen to it after the required retention period has expired.
Financial Details
If you wish to apply for a particular service from the local authority you may be asked for a varying amount of personal financial details specific to you and your family, in order to support your application. Laois County Council will set out the information we require in a series of separate and distinct application forms relevant to each service. As is the case with the other personal data outlined above the specific service/section of Laois County Council will address the necessity for the financial details as part of their specific privacy notice.
Records Retention Policy
Laois County Council has a detailed record retention policy which goes in to more detail of the time period for which your personal data will be retained by the Council and what will happen to it after the required retention period has expired.
Corporate Services Records Retention Schedule
Finance Records Retention Schedule
Enterprise & Economic Development Retention Schedule
Finance Records Retention Schedule
Health and Safety Retention Policy
Housing-LA National Records Retention Schedule
HR National Retention Schedule
Planning & Development Retention Schedule
Procurement Retention Schedule
Transportation and Infrastructure Records Retention Schedule
Water Services National retention Schedule
Environment Retention Schedule
Your Data Protection Rights
You have the right to request access to personal data held about you, obtain confirmation as to whether data concerning you exists, be informed of the content and source of data and check its accuracy. In addition, if the data held by us is found to be inaccurate you have the right to change, remove, block, or object to the use of, personal data held by Laois County Council. In certain circumstances blocking access to data may delay or remove access to a service where the data is required by law or for essential purposes related to delivery of a service to you. Please note that to help protect your privacy, we take steps to verify your identity before granting access to personal data. Our Data Access Policy is available here
To exercise these rights you should take the following steps:
- Please complete the form which can be accessed by clicking on the following link
Data Protection Access Request Form - Forward your completed request to the Data Protection Officer at the following address:
Data Protection Officer,
Laois County Council,
County Hall,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
R32EHP9
Or by email to: dataprotection@laoiscoco.ie
Please note that Laois County Council will not accept requests via telephone or text message.
In addition and in order to enable Laois County Council to confirm your identity, please provide a legible photocopy/scanned proof of your identity (e.g. photocopy of passport or drivers licence) and
Proof of address (photocopy/scanned copy of a utility bill with your named on it).
Please note that once your identity is verified, the documentation provided for that purpose will be securely destroyed.
Right of Complaint to the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the response you received from Laois County Council in relation to your request, then you are entitled to make a complaint to the Data Protection Commissioner who may investigate the matter for you.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner’s website is www.dataprotection.ie or you can contact their Office at:
Lo Call Number: 1890 252 231
E-mail: info@dataprotection.ie
Postal Address: Office of the Data Protection Commissioner
Canal House
Station Road
Portarlington, Co. Laois. R32 AP23.
Privacy Statement