The Data Protection Commissioner says he has significant concerns about how some State organisations deal with people's information.
Billy Hawkes says there is a sloppiness and carelessness in the safeguarding and sharing of data between public sector bodies.
He says the concerns relate in particular to the gardai, the Department of Social Protection and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Billy Hawkes - who is retiring this year - told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk that the quality of data protection in the public sector needs to improve on a system-wide basis.
The report says that during 2013, the Office opened 910 complaints for investigation.
It says that complaints from individuals in relation to difficulties gaining access to their own personal data held by organisations accounted for almost 57% of the overall complaints - with 517 complaints in this category.
Comissioner Hawkes says he is 'not happy' with the State protocols
The Office says this represents "a record high number of complaints concerning access requests".
Complaints last year about unsolicited marketing communications under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations are at a similar level to recent years, with a total of 204 opened for investigation.
While 44 audits and inspections were carried out last year, which was an increase of 10% on the previous year.
