Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
155. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the total number of Freedom of Information requests submitted to his Department in 2022 and to date in 2023; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51983/23]
View answerIn 2022 my Department received 226 Freedom of Information requests and since the beginning of this year, up to 22 November 2023, has received 206 requests. Of these requests, 61 were subject to full refusal in 2022 and 52 requests were subject to full refusal this year, up to 22nd November 2023.
The majority of these refusals were on the basis of what is termed an administrative refusal under Section 15(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act, which provides that an FOI request may be refused to be granted where the record concerned does not exist or cannot be found after all reasonable steps to ascertain its whereabouts have been taken.
Officials acting as Decision Makers on Freedom of Information requests received by my Department endeavour to take a proactive approach to the handling of Freedom of Information requests, engaging with the requesters to assist them further, which can include assisting in refining a request or in directing requesters to other relevant public bodies, or pointing to information or records that are already in the public domain, for example, on the Department's website. Requesters are always made aware of their right of appeal, if they are not satisfied with any decision issued by my Department.
