Freedom of Information requests up by 38 per cent last year

The figures are included in the Office of the Information Commissioner’s (OIC) annual report, which also shows a 20 per cent increase in the number of reviews completed within the four month time-frame set out in the Freedom of Information Act.

There has also been a 65 per cent year-on-year increase in 2016 so far, according to the Irish Examiner.

Information commissioner Peter Tyndall, speaking at the launch of the report, said it was “the largest year-on-year increase since 1999”.

Mr Tyndall also warned that he is planning to pay closer scrutiny to the failure of some public bodies to issue timely decisions under the Act.

In 2014, the cost of appealing a Freedom of Information decision was reduced from €150 to €50.

Mr Tyndall said that had led to a 80 per cent increase in the number of appeals made to his Office in 2015.