Disputed data requests taking years to finalise

PEOPLE making Freedom of Information (FoI) requests are waiting on average three years for answers where their application is disputed.

Figures presented yesterday show that where a request is turned down and appealed to the Information Commissioner, the waiting time for a decision on whether they should get all, some or none of the information they seek increased from 10 months in 1999 to 35 months last year.

Professor Maeve McDonagh of the law faculty at University College Cork said the waiting times did not include cases that were appealed further to the courts and she warned applicants could be put off pursuing requests.