The Freedom of Information Act has been extended to cover the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Combat Poverty Agency. The Act gives the public access to certain records in State agencies.
The tribunal and the Combat Poverty Agency come under the aegis of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, which has operated the FOI Act since 1998. Over 85 per cent of FOI requests to the Department have been granted in full or in part, according to the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern.
