Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:32 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrangements within his Department for the application of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997. [10040/98]
Written Answers. - Freedom of Information Act.
A range of measures have been put in place in my Department to ensure that members of the public and other interested parties can avail of their rights under the freedom of information legislation. Because of the wide extent of the Department's business and its interaction with the public there is potential for a high volume of requests for access to individual records held by the Department.
The Act provides a statutory right of access to the reasons for decisions made by public bodies and to the guidelines used in making decisions on entitlement to payments and services. The Department has improved the level of access to this type of information considerably in recent years. Thus, the implementation of the requirements of the Act will involve the completion of a process which was already in train.
In accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, my Department has published a reference book setting out its structure, functions and organisation. It also gives details of the services it provides, how the public can avail of these services and the type of information held. Also available are all the internal guidelines used in making decisions on entitlement to the services provided by the Department. The reference book and guidelines in relation to the individual schemes can be supplied on request from the Department's local or public offices or from the information service. They are also available on the Internet.
An information leaflet explaining the arrangements for obtaining access to social welfare records has been published and is available to members of the public.
Information officers at the Department offices will be the first point of contact for requests for information under FOI. These requests will be processed by specially designated freedom of information officers. These officers have been appointed countrywide, that is, in all the Department's local offices, in the decentralised offices in Sligo, Letterkenny, Longford and Waterford and in the headquarter offices in Dublin. Staff have also been designated to consider applications for review of decisions made by the freedom of information officers.
All officers who will process requests under the Act have received specialised training on what is involved. Over 2,000 other staff of my Department have been briefed on the provisions of the freedom of information legislation and the arrangements for dealing with requests for access to records. This briefing is ongoing for remaining staff.
An improved departmental records management system has also been developed which will ensure good practice in maintaining and accessing non-personal records and will assist the procedure in locating material requested under FOI. A request tracking system is also in the process of completion to monitor the type and level of requests received and the action required.
I am satisfied, therefore, that all necessary arrangements have been made for the successful implementation of the freedom of information legislation in my Department.