Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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455. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she 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 she will update them as a matter of priority. [36128/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to fulfilling all obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. My Department’s publication of Freedom of Information disclosure logs is currently not up to date and I intend to remedy this as quickly as possible. The disclosure logs for the first six months of this year will be published this month and all remaining outstanding logs will be published by the autumn.

As the Deputy may be aware, in 2019 my Department undertook an extensive programme of transformation and organisational change. A core element of this programme is a focus on transparency, along with improved external communications and engagement, and the Department’s approach to Freedom of Information is consistent with this aim.

Following on from this transformation programme, an overall examination of processes is underway, including a review of the current model in place for dealing with Freedom of Information requests, and the updating and publication of the disclosure logs.

As a result of this examination of processes, a Freedom of Information Review Committee was recently established within my Department. One of the roles of this committee is to review the Freedom of Information publication scheme for the Department with a view to facilitating frequent and timely publication, as well as considering broadening our publication scheme to include other material and records that may be of general interest to the public.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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456. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality 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 her Department. [36146/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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457. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of freedom of information requests refused by her 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. [36164/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy to provide this information as soon as it is available.