Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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304. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [36121/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department takes a proactive approach to the publication of a wide range of official information and the ‘publication scheme’ is regularly updated in accordance with the “Model Scheme” provided for in section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014. Our policy regarding the Publication Scheme is directly aligned with the guidance provided by the FOI Central Policy Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s 2015 Code of Practice for Freedom of Information for Public Bodies. The scheme is readily accessible and prominently published under the Freedom of Information section of my Department's website www.education.ie as well as www.gov.ie.

The practice within my Department is for routine publication of appropriate information to avoid the need for an FOI request for information under the 6 classes of records identified in the Model Scheme. The information within the scheme is under constant revision to ensure that it is kept relevant and up to date by the FOI Unit and other respective business units.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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305. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [36139/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department reports annually to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on FOI statistics including fees lodged. The table attached gives annual totals of fees received in relation to FOI activity since the commencement of the FOI Act 2014.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [36157/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not generally refuse requests on the basis that the maximum fee threshold is exceeded. The FOI Unit in my Department is proactive in engaging with FOI requesters where necessary to ensure that, as prescribed under Section 12 of the FOI Act, all requests contain sufficient particulars to enable the record to be identified by the taking of reasonable steps. If the request remains broad or voluminous, the FOI Unit assist the requester concerned so as to amend the request for re-submission such that it no longer falls to be refused and this will occur before an administrative refusal is necessary.

This is standard operating procedure for my Department and while we do not capture statistics for the specifics of your query, the numbers are negligible in the context of the circa. 600 requests processed annually by my Department.