Vol. 567 No. 6
59 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if it is intended to provide additional resources for the Office of the Information Commissioner to allow it to clear the huge backlog of appeals, some of which go back to 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14638/03]
Considerable extra resources have been provided for the Office of the Information Commissioner since its establishment in 1998.
Starting from an original staffing complement of nine, I approved two increases in staffing in February and July 2000, leading to a full complement of 19 staff, although this was not achieved until October 2001 because of delays in the selection and recruitment process.
As a result of these extra staff and changes in work procedures, significant progress has been achieved in the completion of appeal cases during the past 16 months, and more particularly in the past four months. For example, in the year 2002, the office completed 534 reviews, which represented an increase of 20% over the figure for the year 2001. The office has completed 198 cases in the first quarter of 2003, which represents an increase in output of 75% over the first quarter of 2002.
There has, however, been a significant increase in review applications received in the first quarter of 2003. Applications are up 57% over the same period in 2002. Much of this increased volume can be accounted for by requests for records to the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children from former residents of industrial schools, special schools and other child care institutions.
Decisions on these cases are being carefully monitored by the Departments concerned and their implications assessed. It is not clear, at this stage, whether the upsurge will persist, or the extent to which major projects to index and catalogue the records of those departments will improve the situation.
