Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Requests.

Bernard Allen

Question:

315 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of freedom of information requests received in each of the health board areas in 1999, 2000 and to date in 2001; the number granted; and the number where information was refused. [23976/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The following table shows the numbers of requests received by health boards under the Freedom of Information Act, 1998, in the years 1999, 2000, and within this year to the end of August 2001:

Health Board	Year 1999	Year 2000	Year 2001 to end of August.
North-Western	336	223	288
North-Eastern	120	175	199
Western	306	506	338
Mid-Western	318	316	156
Midlands	128	162	124
Southern	278	419	376
South-Eastern	154	205	245
Eastern	326	46	0
ERHA Corporate	–	33	25
East Coast AHB	–	50	51
Northern AHB	–	106	96
South-Western AHB	–	66	96
Total	1,966	2,307	1,994

Requests under the Act may be granted, part granted, or refused. Requests may also be subject to third party consultation, internal review, and appeal to the Information Commissioner.

Statistics showing the numbers of the above cases which have been refused are not available but the annual report of the Information Commissioner for the year 2000 gives the following analysis for requests received by health boards:

Granted	70%
Part Granted	12%
Refused	12%
Transferred	1%
Withdrawn or handled outside FOI	5%
Total	100%