I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.
My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and I am advised that 27 requests for information were submitted under the Freedom of Information Acts to my Department between that date and end-2011. As the Deputy will be aware, requests for non-personal records are required to be accompanied by an application fee of €15 (a reduced fee applies to those covered by a medical card). I am advised that, during the period in question, application fees were charged in 24 cases, totalling €360.
Section 47 of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 provides for fees to be charged, as appropriate, for the process of searching for, retrieving and making copies of the records that are to be released. I am advised that, of the 27 aforementioned requests submitted to my Department, such fees were considered applicable in 2 cases and that fees were charged of €157.87 and €22.99, respectively.