The Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Tom Parlon TD, today announced that the Freedom of Information Act has been extended to an additional 32 public bodies * see list attached.

"This represents the latest phase in a continuing programme of extending the FOI Act," the Minister said. In welcoming the latest extension the Minister added that "it underlines the Government's
commitment to ensuring greater accountability in the public sector".

The Minister of State said that plans for further extensions of the FOI Act are being made towards ensuring that FOI applies to all appropriate bodies no later than end-2005.


For further information contact: Lynda Hendley, Press Officer, (01) 647 6128/086-8204212



New bodies to which the FOI Act now applies
1. An Bord Bia

2. An Bord Glas

3. An Bord Iascaigh Mhara

4. Area Development Management Limited

5. Bord Fáilte Éireann

6. Bord na gCon

7. Central Fisheries Board

8. C.E.R.T.

9. Digital Media Development Limited

10. Dublin Transportation Office

11. Eastern Regional Fisheries Board

12. European Regional Development Fund Financial Control Unit

13. Horse Racing Ireland

14. Housing Finance Agency

15. Irish National Stud Company

16. Marine Institute

17. NDP - CSF Evaluation Unit

18. NDP - CSF Information Office

19. NDP - CSF Information Technology Unit

20. National Drugs Strategy Team

21. National Milk Agency

22. National Roads Authority

23. Northern Regional Fisheries Board

24. North Western Regional Fisheries Board

25. Railway Procurement Agency

26. Rent Tribunal

27. Shannon Regional Fisheries Board

28. Southern Regional Fisheries Board

29. South Western Regional Fisheries Board

30. Teagasc

31. Western Regional Fisheries Board

32. Western Development Commission