Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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148. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [36134/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The publication of Freedom of Information logs is a priority for the Department of Transport, and we are committed to making this information available on a timely basis. The Department has published all Freedom of Information disclosure logs up to and including Quarter 1, 2021. Quarter 2 is scheduled to be uploaded in August 2021, once all non-personal FOIs received in Q2 have had decisions rendered.

If the Deputy wishes to view the disclosure logs, they can be found at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/c67965-foi-disclosure-logs-2016/

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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149. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [36152/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The current Freedom of Information Act came into effect on 14th October 2014. In accordance with SI 264/2003 the previous fee for an FOI application was €15 and the fee for a review was €75 (€10 and €25 respectively for medical card holders) .Under the 2014 Act, the application fee was abolished and the fee for a review was reduced to €30 (€10 for medical card holders).

The fees collected on an annual basis by the Department of Transport in accordance with the Freedom of Information Acts from 2014 to 2020 are set out in the attached table:

The figures provided are inclusive of fees received from search and retrieval, internal reviews and application fees applicable from January-October 2014 (prior to being abolished). While the fee structure has been helpful in terms of discouraging vexatious requests, the Department actively works with each requester to minimise or eliminate the costs that may arise in relation to their request.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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150. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport 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. [36170/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Department of Transport does not record the information that the Deputy requests, as we are not required to maintain such information under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. However I can assure the Deputy that while the cost aspect of the Freedom of Information legislation has been important in terms of discouraging vexatious requests, where the it appears from an initial review of an FOI request that fees might apply, the Department always engages with the requestor to advise them and work with them with a view to reducing, or eliminating, estimated costs. This makes for a more effective and efficient process for all concerned.