Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Jun 2000

Vol. 522 No. 2

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Act.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

206 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 made to his Department in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18500/00]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The information requested by the Deputy on the numbers of FOI requests made to the Department of Finance is as follows:

Period	Number of FOI requests received
21 April to 31 December 1998	205
1 January to 31 December 1999	349
1 January to 23 June 2000	159
Total to date	713

Journalists have submitted around 40% of the total number of FOI requests received by the Department of Finance to date, while Members of the Oireachtas account for around 23%, businesses 10%, staff of the Department, including ex-members of staff, 7%, and others, mainly individual members of the public, account for about 20%. The numbers of FOI requests received by the Department indicate that the Freedom of Information Act has become established in the public mind as a useful tool for obtaining information.