Freedom of Information Requests

Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017

Monday, 11 September 2017

Questions (1147)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

1147. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the unit responsible within the HSE for releasing medical reports under the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act 2003; the number of staff dedicated to facilitating these requests; the reasons for delays in responses and releasing of medical reports under FOI requests; if his attention has been drawn to the frequent lack of acknowledgements of receipt of such FOI requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37970/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Statutory responsibility for the Health Service Executive's compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act rests entirely with the Health Service Executive. If a person does not receive an acknowledgement to their FOI request within 10 working days of it having been received by the relevant FOI Body, they should contact the Body in question to establish it's receipt and the status of their request.

The Freedom of Information legislation provides for the right of appeal, by requesters, in cases where the statutory time frames have not been met.