The operation of the Freedom of Information Act has been extended to a number of new areas in the public service.
From next year the Act will apply to the following bodies in the Enterprise and Public Enterprise sectors: FAS, Forfas, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority, the National Standards Authority of Ireland, the Labour Relations Commission, Shannon Free Airport Development Ltd and the regulators for Telecom and electricity.
In the cultural area RTE, Teilifis na Gaeilge, the Independent Radio and Television Commission and the Arts Council, and in education the universities, are to come under its ambit for the first time.
Agencies in receipt of significant funding providing services to people with a physical disability will be included. According to a spokeswoman for the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Mr Martin Cullen, who is responsible for the Act, the list of organisations is still to be finalised by the Department of Health.
The National Safety Council, the Local Government Computer Services Board, An Comhairle Leabharlann and the Fire Service Council will also come under the Act, as will the Combat Poverty Agency, the National Social Services Board and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Mr Cullen said that, since the successful implementation of the Act in Ireland, the State had become a model of best practice in other jurisdictions.