Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

Seven freedom of information requests were received in my Department to date in 2010. Of these, two were part granted and the remaining five are still being processed.

As regards FOI requests received in the years 2002 to 2009, the following table shows the number received in each of those years and the number that were granted and part granted.

All FOI requests received in my Department are processed by statutorily designated officials in accordance with the Freedom of Information Acts. I have no role in processing requests.

Note regarding table: Decisions on the remainder of requests received are categorised as either no records, withdrawn, transferred or refused. (Records are refused when they are exempt from release under the FOI Act.)

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