Department of Fun publishes expenses database, massive implications for FOI

[David Cochrane]

The Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism have finally agreed to a request by Gavin Sheridan of TheStory.ie to an entire data dump of their expenses database between 2005 and 2009.

Gavin realised a few months back the database that was being used by the Department was Oracle's iExpense, so he found out how the database worked, and then made a simple request (simple in execution) for a datadump of that database.

Unsurprisingly, they said no.

But following an appeal to the Information Commissioner, the DAST have settled the request with Gavin and he now has the database (with some minor redactions).

He's blogged about it over on TheStory.ie - I'm sure he's going to need some help going through the expenses database which he's published, the point he's made is not so much about the amount of expenses (about €775k), but the quality of the data, and the ability to quickly establish what systems they're using, and making sure the requests for information (FOI requests) are of a sufficient quality and detail that the departments can't be (eventually) give him what he wants.

Now that Gavin has this data from DAST, he's made similar requests for the same information from a tonne of places....

I have started the process of requesting similar expenses data from the Department of Agriculture and Food, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Community Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Defence, the Department of Education and Science, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform, the Courts Service, the Industrial Development Authority, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Finance, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, the Department of Transport, the Health Service Executive, the Revenue Commissioners, FÁS and Enterprise Ireland.

Department’s expenses database – The Story

[loner]

Fair dues to Gavin --see the same Dept. paid out in or about 1.5 million to the underbidders for the National Aquatic contract recently--Hope some information on the whys and whats of this wasteful expenditure will be forthcoming.

[lostexpectation]

24Hr Lunches Breakfasts Dinners

thats the categories theyre under for kate ann o'donoghue you have to go back to ken foxes articles for context
Search Results

there was some mention of him paying some of his wifes bill or tax implications

heres a online version of it via the web db system the sunlight foundation in the US uses http://www.sunlightfoundation.com/ a good example of what can be done

Arts sports tourism expenses

theres an 2~mb .xls of it via thestory and patience and tenacity by gav

[EvotingMachine0197]

Gavin Sheridan is a star and a patriot. Going to have a look now.

[EvotingMachine0197]

Claims in 18 currencies

EUR GBP CNY HKD USD CAND AUD MYR NZD IDR MTL SEK CZK DKK CAD CHF PLZ SGD
I don't know what countries half of them are.

[ibis]

While I like to see government figures, I'm a little bit perturbed by the ability to identify individuals by name? I appreciate that these are work expenses, but still, it seems a little intrusive.

[He3]

While I like to see government figures, I'm a little bit perturbed by the ability to identify individuals by name? I appreciate that these are work expenses, but still, it seems a little intrusive.

A bit like EU payments to farmers being published on the web.

[nixmix]

While I like to see government figures, I'm a little bit perturbed by the ability to identify individuals by name? I appreciate that these are work expenses, but still, it seems a little intrusive.

Its our money therefore I see no problem naming and hopefully shaming some!

[odie1kanobe]

Is there a maximum mileage you are paid at a higher rate and then it drops down ?

[odie1kanobe]

Its our money therefore I see no problem naming and hopefully shaming some!

I have an issue in the naming of PS personnel who claimed expenses. They have a right of privacy rather than having the sneaks of the country looking at everything.