Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Freedom of Information.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

584 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the bodies in or under the aegis of his Department, which have not to date been made subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 1997; if consideration has been given to making each of these bodies subject to the Act; if so, the present state of such consideration; if each of the bodies in question has been consulted in the matter; if so, the present state of such consultations; if each of the bodies will be proposed to be made subject to the Act; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16124/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

As the Deputy will be aware, the Freedom of Information Act was extended to apply to the vast majority of publicly funded third level educational institutions in October 2001. My Department is committed to considering all other bodies under its aegis, including the small number of third level institutions which were not brought within the remit of FOI in 2001, with a view to their possible inclusion in further extensions of the Act.

The Government decided that the process of extending the Freedom of Information Act will continue so that all bodies appropriate for inclusion are covered by the end of the year 2005. I understand that consultations at official level will be initiated within the near future by the Department of Finance with a view to setting a date for the inclusion of the other bodies.

In relation to the primary and post primary school sector, provision for access to information concerning the operation of schools is provided for in the Education Act, 1998.

Appendix 1, which follows, includes the third level institutions mentioned above together with a number of other bodies under the aegis of my Department which, to date, have not been made subject to the Freedom of Information Act, 1997.

Appendix 1

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland,

Higher Education and Training Council,

Further Education and Training Council,

National Educational Welfare Board,

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta

Léargas,

Gaisce,

Teaching Council

Commission on School Accommodation Needs

Recognised primary and post primary schools

Vocational Educational Committees

Advisory Council for English Language Schools

Aontas, National Association of Adult Education,

National Literacy Agency,

Educational Centres

National College of Ireland

National University of Ireland

All Hallows College

Milltown Institute of Theology & Philosophy

Pontifical University of Maynooth

St. Patricks College Carlow

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

Institiúid Teangealaíochta Éireann

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

Royal Irish Academy of Music

Royal Irish Academy