The Department of Social Protection receives the second highest number of FOI requests - only the HSE receive more. There is a dedicated unit in the Department to support the processing of Freedom of Information requests. It is comprised of:
• 1 Part time PO (as in has other responsibilities other than FOI)
• 1 Fulltime AP
• 1.7 Full-time equivalent HEOs
• 1 Fulltime EO
• 1 Fulltime CO
Both the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Authority have a HEO each who is responsible for dealing with FOI requests among other duties.
Below are the number of freedom of information requests dealt with by the Department and bodies under the aegis of the Department by year:
|
2021
|
Total
|
Personal information
|
Non-Personal
|
Mixed
|
|
Department of Social Protection
|
1733
|
1550
|
150
|
33
|
|
Citizen's Information Board
|
22
|
7
|
15
|
0
|
|
Pensions Authority
|
11
|
3
|
8
|
0
|
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office
|
91
|
89
|
2
|
0
|
|
Social Welfare Tribunal
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2022
|
Total
|
Personal
|
Non-Personal
|
Mixed
|
|
Department of Social Protection
|
2085
|
1922
|
157
|
6
|
|
Citizen's Information Board
|
33
|
3
|
30
|
0
|
|
Pensions Authority
|
6
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office
|
59
|
56
|
3
|
0
|
|
Social Welfare Tribunal
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
2023
|
Total
|
Personal
|
Non-Personal
|
Mixed
|
|
Department of Social Protection
|
2468
|
2294
|
169
|
5
|
|
Citizen's Information Board
|
19
|
1
|
18
|
0
|
|
Pensions Authority
|
5
|
0
|
5
|
0
|
|
Social Welfare Appeals Office
|
86
|
86
|
0
|
0
|
|
Social Welfare Tribunal
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
