Written answers
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Department of Social Protection
Freedom of Information
5:00 pm
Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 133: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of freedom of information requests received by her in 2011; the number of requests for which a search and retrieval fee was sought; the maximum fee sought by her in respect of a request received; the number of requests not proceeded following the non payment of the search and retrieval fee sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10413/12]
Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The number of Freedom of Information requests received by my Department in 2011 was 1,106. This included the following numbers received by FOI agencies of the Department:
Comhairle 5
Pensions Board 1
Pensions Ombudsmans Office 1
SW Appeals Office 178
A large percentage of FOI requests received by my Department are personal requests. As personal requests are normally for relatively concise files of claims made under the Social Welfare Acts, very often no search and retrieval fees are raised when these records are issued under FOI.
A total of 40 non-personal requests were received in 2011 to which statutory fees apply. The current rate for the statutory fee is â¬15 reduced to â¬10 for medical card holders. The total value received amounted to â¬590 (38 at â¬15 each and 2 at â¬10 each).
There were no requests for which a consequent search and retrieval fee was sought in 2011.
Question No. 134 withdrawn.
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