Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 4

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Act.

Richard Bruton

Question:

152 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of requests received by his Department under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, since the Act commenced; the number refused; the subject matter of those refused; the grounds of refusal; the number of refusals appealed; and the outcome, if any, of these appeals. [26429/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

The total number of freedom of information requests received by my Department from 21 April 1998 – date of commencement of the Act – to 30 November 1999 was 814.

All requests received are considered under the framework of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, and are granted or refused on the basis of that Act. In total 108 requests were refused and a further 85 were part refused. There is no pattern to the subject matter of the requests refused, which covered a wide range of issues encompassed in my Department's operations.

Seventy nine appeals have been submitted to the Department following refusal of a freedom of information request. Seven of these appeals were granted and a further nine part-granted. Thirty four appeals were rejected and 29 are currently under consideration.