Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 26 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 4

Written Answers - Freedom of Information Act.

Dick Spring

Question:

28 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of requests made under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997; the number of requests granted in full; the number of requests granted in part; the number of requests refused; the steps, if any, he is taking to make the decisions public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25183/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table beneath. This covers the period 21 April 1998, when the Freedom of Information Act came into force, to 21 November 1998 — the latest date for which statistics are available.

Number of requests received up to 21-11-98	269
Number of requests granted	86
Number of requests part granted	51
Number of requests refused	47
Number of requests passed on to other Departments	6
Number of requests withdrawn	9
Number of requests being processed	70

As regards the matter of making the decisions taken under the terms of the Act made known publicly, my intention is that in addition to answering parliamentary questions, press queries and so forth, that arise from time to time, my Department's annual report will also contain information in summary form about the nature and type of requests dealt with under the Act.