Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together.

Ten freedom of information requests were received in the Department of the Taoiseach in November 2008. The number of requests received in 2008 as a whole was 83, 64 of which were granted or part granted and ten of which were withdrawn. There were no records in respect of six requests. In the other three cases, the records sought were exempt from release. The table that follows this reply sets out the other figures requested by the Deputies. All freedom of information applications received by the Department of the Taoiseach are processed by statutorily designated officials in accordance with the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. In accordance with the Acts, I have no role in processing individual applications.

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