Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2015
72. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of freedom of information requests, in tabular form, received by his Department in 2015 to date; the number of these where the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of the receipt of the request or was extended by up to four weeks because the necessary resources to complete the request within the original timeframe were not available. [36741/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom 1st January 2015 to 18th September 2015, a total of 230 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were received by my Department. These 230 requests would in the normal course of events fall due to be completed by 16th October 2015 (four weeks after 18th September) or earlier depending on the date of receipt of the request.
The following table sets out information in respect of these 230 requests in terms of completion within the four week timeframe.
|
- |
No. |
|
Total number of FOI Requests received from 1st January 2015 to 18th September 2015 |
230 |
|
Completed within four weeks from date of receipt |
176 |
|
Completed outside of four weeks from date of receipt |
54 |
There are a number of provisions in the FoI Act which allow for the completion of requests outside of the standard 4 week time frame including where the request is for a large number of records and the requirement for third party consultation.
In addition some requests can involve the retrieval and co-ordination of records from various areas/locations across the Department including files in storage and/or requests may be received during peak holiday period when resources may be reduced. In both of these latter circumstances the information may on occasion, be provided outside of the four week timeframe.
Overall more than 75% of all requests under the Freedom of Information Act are processed within four weeks of receipt. My Department does not have a breakdown of the remaining 25% as between those covered by provisions of the Act and those that are delayed due to resources or other unavoidable circumstances.
My Department is committed to meeting its obligations under the FOI Act 2014 including responding to FOI requests within the specified timeframes.
