Freedom of Information Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2018

Tuesday, 27 February 2018

Questions (671)

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

671. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of freedom of information requests her Department has received in the past eight years; the number accepted without further escalation and not accepted, respectively; the number requested which were not accepted that were escalated to the Office of the Information Commissioner; the number in which the Office of the Information Commissioner ruled in favour of the person making the freedom of information request; the number in which the Office of the Information Commissioner ruled against her Department; the number her Department appealed to the High Court; the number the High Court ruled against her Department in favour of the applicant; the number which were then brought to the Court of Appeal by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9290/18]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The number of freedom of information (FOI) requests received in the Department in the past 8 years which were granted, part-granted or refused is set out in table 1.

The number of FOI requests where a review by the OIC was requested in the past 8 years which were accepted and the decision to affirm or rule against is set out in table 2.

There were none appealed to the High Court or to the Court of Appeal from this Department.

Table 1:

Number and outcome of (FOI) Requests received in the Dept 2010 – 2017

Year	Total Received*	Requests Granted	Requests Part Granted	Refused
2010	859	639	169	36
2011	1106	713	276	56
2012	1686	1168	331	64
2013	2148	1550	378	96
2014	2193	1375	524	111
2015	2156	1276	696	106
2016	2089	1005	821	104
2017	2443	1136	932	166

* It should be noted that there are also a number of FOI requests that are carried over from one year to the next and a number are withdrawn/transferred out etc.

Table 2:

Number and outcome of (FOI) Requests where a review by the OIC was requested from 2010 – 2017

Year	Total No. of cases where customer requested an OIC review*	Cases where the OIC accepted the request for a review	Cases where OIC affirmed the DEASP decision	Cases where OIC ruled  against the DEASP decision
2010	7	6	1	0
2011	7	6	4	0
2012	17	8	6	1
2013	16	12	6	0
2014	32	20	7	1
2015	17	11	5	2
2016	18	13	9	0
2017	39	26	13	1

* It should be noted that there are also a number of cases that are withdrawn/closed etc.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.