Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
210. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media 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 her Department. [36151/21]
View answer211. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of freedom of information requests refused by her Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36169/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.
Details of the number of FOI Requests received by my Department and the charging provisions applicable to such requests are available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/42b27-freedom-of-information-foi/
Charges, if any, arising in the case of individual FOI requests are dependent on the nature of the request received. It is the policy of my Department to seek to assist requesters in minimising or eliminating costs where possible with a view to ensuring efficiency in the operation of the FOI legislation to the mutual benefit of the requester and the Department.
Following a review of FOI requests received during the period specified, the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
|
Year |
Requests where Estimated fees were above the limit |
Requests granted / part granted following refinement |
Associated fees following refinement |
Total fees collected per year (Search and Retrieval & Internal Review) |
|
2014 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
€707 |
|
2015 |
6 |
1 |
€0 |
€232 |
|
2016 |
5 |
3 |
€0 |
€190 |
|
2017 |
2 |
2 |
€0 |
€150 |
|
2018 |
1 |
1 |
€0 |
€463 |
|
2019 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
€360 |
|
2020 |
2 |
2 |
€0 |
€498 |
|
2021 |
3 |
2 |
€0 |
€120 |
