Access to Information Updates
The national policing authority has claimed there is an ‘increasing demand nationally’ for more Gardai operated CCTV, with the latest policy document listing traffic management, VIP visits and protest marches amongst the reasons for ‘legitimate use’.
Continue reading “‘Increased demand’ for Garda-operated CCTV nationally, claims Policing Authority”
Documents which were denied under FOI by the Department of Justice on the basis they ‘did not exist’ have been unearthed upon review by the Information Commissioner nearly 18 months after the initial request.
Continue reading “Documents DOJ claimed did not exist unearthed on Review 18 months later”
FACEBOOK looked for advice on how to deal with U.S. pages targeting Irish voters in the run-up to the repeal referendum only to find there was no “definitive answer” on what could be done.
MORE than two out of every five childcare services being funded by the state were found to be majorly non-compliant with requirements, a damning report has found.
Continue reading “2 out of 5 state-funded childcare services fail to be compliant”
TWO rugs together costing over €6,200, a €5,000 contribution towards sculpting a bust of a former diplomat, renting a juicer for Prince Charles, and €32,500 for a luxury car were just some of the ways the Department of Foreign Affairs spent taxpayer’s money last year.
Continue reading “Luxury rugs, cars and a juicer rental: How the DFA spent taxpayer’s money in 2017”
The Information Commissioner has denied an application to release information on the identities of former members of the Oireachtas who had Dáil bar/restaurant bills written off.
Continue reading “FOI Decision: Disclosure of Dail Bar debtors denied”
An FOI of all business groups’ correspondence with the Taoiseach last year reveals growing concern from various business organisations over the risk of Brexit to Irish jobs.
Over 28 letters relating to the impact of Brexit were sent from groups representing Irish business interests to the Department of the Taoiseach’s office in 2017.
Continue reading “Brexit “biggest economic threat to Ireland in a generation”, business groups warn”
MORE than €27,000 was spent sending five politicians and three officials on a week-long trip to China and Hong Kong.
The entire delegation flew business class at a cost of at least €2,712 each and stayed in a string of five-star hotels, most of which were generously paid for by their Chinese hosts.
Continue reading “Politicians trip to Hong Kong and China cost €27,000”
A CONTROVERSIAL banner that adorned the Ha’penny Bridge has been put into permanent storage after Dublin City Council found it was in breach of its own planning guidelines. Continue reading “Dublin City Council’s ‘Up the Dubs’ banner in breach of its own guidelines”
A CRACKDOWN on learner drivers could leave waiting times for driving tests of up to 68 weeks unless extra staff were hired, an internal briefing report warned the Department of Transport.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) said plans to fine and jail motorists who give their vehicles to unaccompanied learner drivers might lead to 150,000 extra driving tests.
In a “surge planning” report, they said they anticipated a huge spike in applications that could last for between a year and eighteen months.
They also warned there could be an upsurge in failure rates with some drivers attempting their test after years without having taken lessons.
According to internal documents, there were just over 247,000 people holding provisional licences and already waiting times for a test were running at 20 to 26 weeks at some centres.
The RSA had predicted what the changes might mean given a low, medium, or high volume of new applications for a driving test.
In their “high” scenario, 118,947 people would come looking for a test while another 29,737 people would fail and need another test.
That would leave them needing 148,684 additional tests, which would lead to average waiting times of 68 weeks without any intervention.
Read the full Report below
