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Freedom of Information

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2024

Tuesday, 25 June 2024

Ceisteanna (249)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

249. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of contracted staff, full-time and part-time, employed by his Department, and by any body or entity under the aegis of the Department, who are specifically assigned to processing freedom of information requests (details supplied), in each of the past three years; the Civil Service grade of each; the number of freedom of information requests dealt with by his Department, or any body or entity under its aegis, in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27236/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Secretary General, with support from the Assistant Secretary of the Corporate and Business Support Division, oversees my Department's obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. 

Details of the number of staff employed by my Department who are assigned to the  day to day processing Freedom of Information requests, and the number of such requests received by my Department in each of the past three years, are set out in the attached Table 1. The Principal Officer and Assistant Principal Officer referenced are responsible for several functional areas separate to their involvement in Freedom of Information processes. The table provided excludes decision makers who are assigned on a case by case basis. 

I have also provided the number of Freedom of Information requests processed by my Department's aegis bodies in Table 2. 

My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of staff employed by its aegis bodies assigned to processing Freedom of Information requests. That information can be requested from the bodies directly. These bodies may be contacted by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in Table 3.

Table 1 - Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Year

Staff – Full Time

Grade

Staff – Part Time

Grade

FOI Requests Received

2021

4

1 Principal Officer

1 Assistant Principal Officer

1 Executive Officer

1 Clerical Officer

0

N/A

516

2022

4

1 Principal Officer

1 Assistant Principal Officer

1 Executive Officer

1 Clerical Officer

1

1 Higher Executive Officer

542

2023

5

1 Principal Officer

1 Assistant Principal Officer

1 Executive Officer January-May 2023

1 Clerical Officer

1 Temporary Clerical Officer May-December 2023

1

1 Higher Executive Officer

569

Table 2 – Requests received by aegis bodies

Year

Body

FOI Requests Received

2021

An Bord Pleanála

64

Gas Networks Ireland

17

Heritage Council

5

Housing Finance Agency

2

Housing Sustainable Communities Agency

25

Irish Water

179

Land Development Agency

23

Local Government Management Agency

11

Office of the Planning Regulator

11

Ordnance Survey Ireland

15

Property Registration Authority

74

Residential Tenancies Board

78

Valuation Office, (Oifig Luachála)

6

Waterways Ireland

28

Year

Body

FOI Requests Received

2022

An Bord Pleanála

128

Gas Networks

15

Heritage Council

5

Housing Finance Agency (HFA)

5

Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency

40

Irish Water

200

Land Development Agency

16

Local Government Management Agency (LGMA)

14

Office of the Planning Regulator

18

Ordnance Survey Ireland

9

Property Registration Authority

38

Residential Tenancies Board

140

Valuation Office, (Oifig Luachála)

14

Waterways Ireland

13

Year

Body

FOI Requests Received

2023

An Bord Pleanála

99

An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum)

0

Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority

10

Gas Networks Ireland

27

Heritage Council

6

Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency

40

Housing Finance Agency (HFA)

4

Land Development Agency

43

Local Government Management Agency (LGMA)

24

Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA)

0

Office of the Planning Regulator

16

Pyrite Resolution Board

0

Residential Tenancies Board

94

Tailte Éireann (established 01/03/2023)

49

Ordnance Survey Ireland (until 28/02/2023)

2

Property Registration Authority (until 28/02/2023)

21

Valuation Office, (Oifig Luachála) (until 28/02/2023)

1

Uisce Éireann

243

Valuation Tribunal

0

Waterways Ireland

23

Table 3 - Contact Information for aegis bodies

Bodies under the Aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Oireachtas email

An Bord Pleanála

oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie

An Fóram Uisce

oireachtas@nationalwaterforum.ie

Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority

oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie

Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum

infodocklands@dublincity.ie

Electoral Commission

info@electoralcommission.ie

Gas Networks Ireland

oireachtas@gasnetworks.ie

Heritage Council

oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie

Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency

publicreps@housingagency.ie

Housing Finance Agency

oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie

Land Development Agency

oireachtas@lda.ie

Local Government Management Agency

oireachtasmemberqueries@lgma.ie

Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA)

oireachtas@mara.gov.ie

National Oversight and Audit Commission

oireachtas@noac.ie

National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee

ntacc@housing.gov.ie

Office of the Planning Regulator

oireachtas@opr.ie

Pyrite Resolution Board

oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie

Residential Tenancies Board

OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie

Tailte Éireann

Oireachtas@tailte.ie

Uisce Éireann

oireachtasmembers@water.ie

Valuation Tribunal

oireachtas@valuationtribunal.ie

Waterways Ireland

ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org

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