Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of freedom of information requests made to his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the number of requests fully denied by reason; the number of requests partially denied; the number of appeals made against denials; the number of such appeals upheld; the number of such appeals rejected; the number of requests that required a fee; the amount received for freedom of information requests in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50592/19]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The number of requests received under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (the Act) are set out in the table below. Freedom of Information requests can only be refused as provided for under the various sections of the Act. Requests received by my Department are generally refused or part-granted for the reasons listed below:- Record relates to security and defence of the State

- Record relates to current deliberations of the public body

- Record relates to meetings of government

- Record does not exist

- Record contains commercially sensitive information/disclosure of trade secrets

- Record already in the public domain

- Constitutional protection applies to record i.e. private papers of Oireachtas member

- Legal professional privilege applies to record

- Record to be published within six weeks

- Voluminous request

- Insufficient particulars provided to allow for the record to be identified.

*figures for number of requests refused, part-granted and internal review include requests carried forward from the previous year.