Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of requests under the Freedom of Information Acts received by her Department in each year from 2002 to 2005 and to date in 2006; the amount of money received in application fees for each year; the amount of money received in information retrieval fees for each year; the percentage of requests coming from journalists in each year; the percentage of retrieval fees that were charged to journalists rather than members of the public; the percentage of requests from journalists for which a retrieval fee was charged; the percentage of requests from members of the public for which a retrieval fee was charged; the average retrieval fee charged; the median retrieval fee charged; the number of cases in which the retrieval fee was waived; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33715/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department charges fees in accordance with Section 47 of the Freedom of Information Act 1997. In addition to the upfront fees for non-personal requests, fees may apply to search, retrieval and record copying. The rates are prescribed by regulation. The requested information in relation to all fees is tabulated as follows for each year since 2002:

It would appear that the introduction of upfront fees in 2003 saw a reduction in the usage of FOI. However the majority of requests from 2002 to 2004 were requests for personal information relating to institutional care. There was an increase in non-personal requests to the Department in 2005, both media and corporate requests. While the table shows a gradual increase in media usage from 2002 to 2005, this has almost doubled in 2006. The median value is not available from the Department's data and statistics in relation to the proportion of fees relating to media requests are only available from 2004 as shown as follows:

Regarding waivers, on one occasion during this period the Department waived a fee on the basis that the information contained in the record concerned would be of particular assistance to the understanding of an issue of national importance. The Act provides for the waiver of fees in other circumstances in particular where the cost of collection would exceed the fee or where the request relates only to personal information. The Department does not collate information in relation to this aspect of the Act.