Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Dec 2003

Vol. 577 No. 5

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information.

Enda Kenny

Question:

157 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act received by his Department in 2003; the number of requests received per month for 2003; the number of requests received per month for 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31866/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

There has been a reduction in requests received in 2003. The rate of receipt of FOI requests tends to show unpredictable peaks and troughs. The statistics requested by the Deputy are as follows:

	2002				2003
	Personal	Non-Personal	Total	Personal	Non-Personal	Total
January	9	34	43	36	56	92
February	7	23	30	105	38	143
March	16	44	60	57	48	75
April	41	35	76	70	33	103
May	37	34	71	33	27	60
June	18	19	37	47	23	70
July	36	44	80	44	24	68
August	93	32	125	20	13	33
September	141	23	164	37	10	48
October	122	29	151	38	14	52
November	78	31	109	30	11	41
December	40	24	64	13	2	15
Total	638	372	1010	530	299	829*

*December 2003 statistics cover requests received up to 17 December 2003.