OVER THE PAST six years there has been a steady decline in the percentage of Freedom of Information requests fully granted by the Taoiseach’s Department.

The largest percentage of requests granted was in 2009 when over half (52) of the 99 requests submitted were granted in full.

The Department of the Taoiseach provided information in the Dáil on the requests it received under Freedom of Information from 2009 to 2015.

2009 was also the only year were more requests were granted in full than part granted.

The figures show a steady decline in the percentage of requests fully granted over the past six years.

The high of 52% in 2009 dropped to 37% in 2010 and continued to drop in the following years.

2011 and 2012 saw 28% of requests fully granted, while 2013 and 2014 saw a further drop to 21%.

More requests

Last year saw the highest number (173) of Freedom of Information requests received by the Taoiseach’s Department over the past six years.

In the year previous, 2013, almost half as many requests came in (91) and of those just 20 were fully granted.

Of the 120 requests listed for 2015, 39 of those are ongoing from previous years.

The chart below shows the number of requests which have faced an internal appeal or review within the Taoiseach’s Department after initially being refused.