Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It should be borne in mind that 70% of applications received by freedom of information offices relate to personal matters and are therefore dealt with for free. It should be recognised that the first two hours of analysis of any freedom of information request is done for free. If the issues involved can be dealt with in that timeframe, there is no charge at all. Many freedom of information officers have informed me of the current position, which is that a page asking about a certain issue might contain a further 20 or 40 requests that are hidden behind the first request. It can take a great length of time for the relevant official in the relevant Department to deal with it. An itemised charge will apply in such circumstances if it takes more than two hours to deal with each item and if the matter in question is not of a personal nature. Dealings with such matters will of course remain free. When I was on the other side of the House, a Deputy submitted a freedom of information request relating to a justice matter and the estimated cost of dealing with it was over €9,000. It was a very complex case going back a number of years.

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