Freedom of Information

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Questions (259)

Matt Carthy

Question:

259. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of freedom of information requests responded to by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42970/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received and responded to by my Department in the specified period is set out in the table below.

Year	Number of Freedom of Information requests
2021 (to date)	178
2020	295
2019	306
2018	207
2017	247
2016	349

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not capture details of the nature of documents issued to FOI requesters as part of its FOI processes and therefore cannot supply the information requested regarding the type of records.