Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together.

Ten freedom of information requests were received in the Department of the Taoiseach in October 2010. Some 91 requests were received during the first ten months of the year, of which 70 were granted or part-granted and four were refused. No records were held in nine cases, while three requests were withdrawn. Five requests are ongoing. The comparative figures for the first ten months of each year since 2002 are: 2002, 113; 2003, 133; 2004, 39; 2005, 49; 2006, 48; 2007, 58; 2008, 59; 2009, 82; and 2010, 91. All freedom of information 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.

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