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Freedom of Information

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Questions (191)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

191. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36147/21]

View answer

Written answers

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.

I wish to advise the Deputy that as per the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014, fees are only applied in respect of the time spent searching and retrieving records particular to a FOI request for records, and in respect of the copying of such records. Search and retrieval includes time spent in determining whether the Department holds the records requested, locating the records, retrieving the records or documents, extracting the information from electronic or hardcopy files or documents, and preparing a schedule specifying the records for consideration for release.

In most cases, there are no search, retrieval and copying charges where the request relates to the requesters personal records. However, the Act does allow that in situations where the request relates to a significant number of records that a charge may be levied having regard to the circumstances of the requester.

Fees are also applied in respect of requests for internal reviews of decisions on non-personal FOI requests and these are noted separately in table below.

Year

Total amount of Freedom of Information Search and Retrieval fees collected

Total amount of Freedom of Information Internal Review Fees collected

2014

€146

€30

2015

€123

€60

2016

-

€300

2017

-

€240

2018

€100

€180

2019

-

€270

2020

€554

€210

2021 (to date)

€462

€180

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