Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a recent parliamentary question submitted by this Deputy was not answered (details supplied), given that the content of a similar parliamentary question was answered in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38103/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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While the Department did give financial detail of its arrangements with private travel operators participating in the Free Travel Scheme in 2010, it no longer does so. Providing this information can cause difficulties for the Department’s engagement with operators who view such information as commercially sensitive. It can also result in some of the Department’s negotiating position be disclosed.

The Deputy will appreciate that the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 recognises these concerns as it facilitates the withholding of such information under section 30 where the State’s negotiating position could be compromised and under section 36 where the information is of a commercially sensitive nature.