Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 29 Jun 1999

Vol. 507 No. 2

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Act.

Marian McGennis

Question:

31 Ms M. McGennis asked the Taoiseach the companies or businesses from which his Department has received most frequent requests under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, other than requests by businesses for personal information; the general nature of the information sought; and the costs levied on the companies or businesses for the processing of these requests. [16410/99]

The Taoiseach

Between the commencement of the Act and the end of May 177 FOI requests have been received by my Department. Of those, 117 have been from media sources, 17 from business and 15 from members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

The companies or businesses who have most frequently made requests to my Department period are:

Companies/Businesses	Number of Requests
RTE	57
The Sunday Times	34
Sunday Tribune	13
Policywatch	5
Amárach Consulting	3

While it is difficult to summarise the general nature of the information sought, the following table will give an indication.

Company/Business	No. ofRequests	Nature of Information Sought
RTE	57	(i) Details of meetings with the Taoiseach and named individuals.(ii) Details of diaries/MAC meetings/submissions/FOI requests.(iii) Details from 49 individual files.(iv) Details of certain Bills.
Company/Business	No. ofRequests	Nature of Information Sought
The Sunday Times	34	(i)Details of meetings/correspondence between the Taoiseach and named individuals.(ii) Expenses incurred by the Taoiseach etc.(iii) Cost of Tribunals.(iv) Details concerning certain projects, Acts, committees.
Sunday Tribune	13	(i)Details of meetings/correspondence between the Taoiseach and named individuals.(ii) Cabinet meetings agenda.(iii) Expenses/costs.(iv) Details concerning certain projects, claims, committees.
Policywatch	5	(i) Details of emails/MAC minutes/FOI issues.(ii) Invoices re: telecommunication companies
Amárach Consulting	3	(i) Details of market /social research undertaken.(ii) I.T. records, research report, invoices, tenders etc.

Section 47 of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 provides that fees may be charged only in respect of cost of, search for and retrieval of records and the cost of copying of records. Fees may not be charged for examination of records or other deliberations involved in processing requests.

The fees for search and retrieval are fixed by reference to the clerical officer scale – at £16.50 per hour. Copying charges are 3p per copy or photocopies, 40p for floppy disk and £8 for a CD-Rom.

Of the company-business requests identified above, charges were imposed only in relation to two, £69.00 and £65.40 respectively.