Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of freedom of information requests submitted to her Department in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the total number of such requests that were rejected in their entirety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37592/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department reports annually to both the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) on Freedom of Information activity. The OIC publishes this data in its annual report and the annual reports up to 2023 are available on its website

In 2022 my Department received 359 requests. 64 of these requests were refused.

In 2023 my Department received 389 requests. 80 of these requests were refused.

To date in 2024 my Department has received 388 requests. 78 of these requests have been refused.

Requests may be refused where, for example, the request is not sufficiently detailed to enable the records to be identified after all reasonable efforts have been made, the information is already in the public domain and can be accessed by the requester as a result, or where a request is for information which is going to be published within 30 working days of receipt of the request.