Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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90. To ask the Taoiseach if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36132/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As required by Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, and in keeping with the principles of openness, transparency and accountability set out in the FOI Act, my Department's FOI publication scheme can be viewed on the gov.ie website. The publication scheme is intended to make available as much information as possible about my Department’s work in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis under the following headings:

- Information about the Department;

- Services provided or to be provided to the public;

- Decision making process for major policy proposals;

- Financial information;

- Procurement; and

- FOI disclosure log and other information published routinely.

My Department keeps its FOI publication scheme under ongoing review and regularly publishes additional information about its work as it becomes available. For example, the scheme is updated every quarter to include the details of management board meetings and invoices over €20,000 paid. Due to the impact of Covid-19 on the work of my Department some aspects of the FOI publication scheme, including the FOI disclosure log, require updating. The necessary work to bring the FOI publication scheme and FOI disclosure log up to date is currently being progressed and will be completed shortly.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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91. To ask the Taoiseach the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36150/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The details requested in relation to fees charged by my Department since the FOI Act 2014 commenced in October 2014 to date in 2021 are as follows:

2014 - €245.70

2015 - €594

2016 - €60

2017 - €90

2018 - €587.84

2019 - €970

2020 - €120

2021 - €60

The figures listed include both search and retrieval fees and internal review fees.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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92. To ask the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36168/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware of one case only since 2014 where the applicant was formally notified that a request exceeded the upper limit of €700 on estimated search, retrieval and copying fees, above which amount an FOI body can refuse to process a request unless the requester is prepared to refine it to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below the limit. On that occasion my Department offered to help the applicant to refine the request as required by the Act but the offer was not taken up and the request was deemed withdrawn.