Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
767. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if it is it normal practice for a freedom of information request to be three months overdue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12987/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra768. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average turnaround time for a freedom of information request sent to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12988/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra769. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the statutory obligations that pertain to FOI requests and their delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12989/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 767 to 769, inclusive, together.
The statutory obligation, of the Department of Health and all FOI bodies, is to issue a decision, in most circumstances, not later than 4 weeks after the receipt of the request.
If a decision does not issue within the statutory time frame, the records are deemed to be refused and the requester has the right to submit an application for an internal review of the case. An internal review decision should issue within 3 weeks of receipt of the internal review application. If a decision does not issue within the three weeks, the applicant may appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
Information in relation to the average turnaround time for processing FOI requests received in my Department is not available.
