Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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270. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the fact that the new freedom of information Act will now include organisations that are currently substantially funded by the State, if this will include voluntary housing agencies. [41802/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Freedom of Information Bill 2013, which I am currently sponsoring, passed Second Stage in the Dail last Thursday (3 October 2013).

The Bill as currently drafted provides at Section 7 for the application of FOI to non-public bodies which are in receipt of significant funding from the State. This will be progressed in due course by way of Ministerial Order subject to consultation with the relevant Departments to agree on criteria to select bodies which are a priority for bringing within the FOI regime.

I cannot, however, say at this stage whether voluntary housing agencies might be made subject to FOI under the new Bill, when enacted.