AQW 5235/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education

To ask the Minister of Education whether the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland has informed teachers that their contact details have potentially been leaked following a reported data breach.

Asked by Connie Egan MLA on 25 October 2022

  • Answered
  • Written
Tabled
25 October 2022
Answer due by
15 February 2024
Answered
8 February 2024471 days after tabling
Department
Department of Education
Priority question
No

Answer

The data breach which was reported in the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland’s (GTCNI) 2020-21 Annual Report and Accounts occurred in March 2021.

It did not involve the GTCNI’s teacher registration database and was restricted to the release of information on a very small number of teachers (<5) all of whom were immediately informed.

The GTCNI also informed the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) who investigated the breach. The ICO concluded that the remedial actions taken by the GTCNI were appropriate and robust and it did not need to take any further action.

Official sources