Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
92. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36168/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of one case only since 2014 where the applicant was formally notified that a request exceeded the upper limit of €700 on estimated search, retrieval and copying fees, above which amount an FOI body can refuse to process a request unless the requester is prepared to refine it to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below the limit. On that occasion my Department offered to help the applicant to refine the request as required by the Act but the offer was not taken up and the request was deemed withdrawn.
