207 Ms M. McGennis asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the companies or businesses from which his Department has received most frequent requests under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997, other than requests by businesses for personal information; the general nature of the information sought; and the costs levied on the companies or businesses for the processing of these requests. [16420/99]

My Department has received a total of 45 requests under the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 for non-personal information. Of this total, 20 were requests from companies or businesses. The companies from whom the Department has received most frequent requests are: The Sunday Times: five; Amárach/Policy Watch: three; and The Sunday Tribune: three.

Information sought included requests for records related to: the commercial activities of my Department; reports prepared by or for my Department related to ongoing policy development; my expenses as Minister; the minutes of the Management Committee.

Fees in respect of the cost of search and retrieval of records were charged in the case of two requests. The total amount requested in fees was £130.80.