What is Freedom of Information (FOI)?
The Freedom of Information Act 2014 provides a right for each person to:
What can I ask for?
The FOI Act is designed to obtain access to records of an organisation. You can ask for any of the following.
However, in order to allow FOI bodies to properly conduct their business, it will sometimes be necessary to exempt from release, certain types (or parts of) records in some circumstances. These are set out in the Act. Among the key exemptions are records relating to:
A "record" can be a paper document, information held on computer, printouts, maps, plans, microfiche, audio-visual etc.
How to and when to apply?
It is important to note that you may not need to use the FOI Act to request information from an FOI body. A large amount of material is already available to the public through websites, information leaflets, publications and responses to enquiries.
If the records you require are not readily available by other means, and you wish to seek access to information using the Freedom of Information Acts you will need to:
Broad or non-specific requests:
Being as specific as you can when making the request makes it more likely that the request will be accepted, as it helps the Council to more easily identify the records you require. Where possible, for example, try to indicate a time period for which you wish to access records (for example, records between December 2017 and February 2018) or other specific information to assist retrieval of records, such as the name of the Department or Section you understand may hold the records you are interested in accessing. In some cases you may even be able to name the specific records that you wish to access. Requests need to be for records, questions may not be a valid request.
Where an applicant fails to be specific in their request with the result that the request is voluminous or excessively broad, the Council may refuse it under Section 15(1)(c) of the Act on the grounds that the request would, by reason of the number or nature of the records concerned cause a substantial and unreasonable interference with or disruption of work of a Section of the Council.
Where this arises the Council will offer to assist the requester in making a request that can avoid refusal on the ground above.
However, being as specific as possible will reduce the possibility of refusal of the FOI request or may avoid or reduce charges to retrieve information, see below on charges.
To apply:
More information and application forms for FOI requests are available at Kildare County Council’s website click here
Requests should be sent to foi@kildarecoco.ie
Do I have to pay for getting information under FOI?
Making an FOI Request:
There is no longer any fee for making an FOI request to a Local Authority.
Charges for processing requests involving significant workloads:
The Council is obliged to apply charges where the cost of retrieving records is significant.
When the request is for personal information there are no charges unless there are a significant number of records. In the case of requests which relate to non-personal information charges may be applied for search retrieval and copying, depending on volumes involved. The relevant section of the Act here is Section 27(2) and these charges relate to time spent on what is referred to as Search, Retrieval and Copying (SRC):
(a) Determining whether it holds the information requested;
(b) Locating the information or documents containing the information
(c) Retrieving such information or documents
(d) Extracting the information from the files, documents, electronic or other
information sources containing both it and material not relevant to the request,
and
(e) Preparing a schedule specifying the records for consideration for release.
In relation to such charges there is a minimum threshold of €101 below which no search, retrieval and copying charge can be charged. Once the charge reaches the €101 full charges apply.
There is a cap on the amount that can be charged and this is set at €500.
There is also a further upper ceiling limit on estimated search, retrieval and copying charge set at €700 above which a body can refuse to process a request unless the requester is prepared to refine the request.
The Council encourages requesters to make specific and focused requests so as to more easily identify records of interest and reduce or avoid charges. Where applicants do not make requests of this nature charges will be applicable or the request may be refused, in certain circumstances.
Fees for review or appeal:
There are fees which apply for an internal review under Section 22 and for appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner.
Fee Type | Standard Fee | Medical Card holders |
Internal Review for Non - Personal Information | €30 | €10 |
Seeking an Internal Review for Personal Information | No Charge | No charge |
Review by Information Commissioner | €50 | €15 |
More information on fees is here
What timelines are generally involved in an FOI Decision?
The Act requires that Kildare County Council must:
*There are certain circumstances where the period for a final decision may be longer than the normal 20 working days. If this occurs with your request we will promptly advise you in writing.
If a third party is involved, there may be another 3 weeks before you receive a response.
More information on time periods under the Act are available here
Can I seek a review or appeal a decision?
Yes.
Internal Review
You may ask for an internal review of our initial decision in relation to your request if:
You must make your appeal within 20 working days of the date that the decision letter was issued to you. An application fee of €30 (€10 if you are covered by a medical card) is required before the processing of an internal review can begin.
The internal review will be carried out by an official at a higher grade than the original decision maker and who was not involved in the original decision making process. We must complete our internal review of the original decision within 15 working days of receipt of the request for an internal review.
An internal review may affirm, vary or annul the original decision in relation to a request. The internal review process must be completed before an appeal can be submitted to the Information Commissioner.
Review by the Information Commissioner
If you are still dissatisfied following completion of the internal review, you may also seek an independent review of our decision from the Information Commissioner.
If you have not received a reply from us to your application for internal review within 15 working days, this is deemed to be a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Commissioner.
Appeals should be made directly to the Information Commissioner (details provided below).
The fee for appeals to the Information Commissioner is €50 (€15 for medical card holders and their dependants).
Office of the Information Commissioner
6 Earlsfort Terrace,
Dublin 2,
D02 W773.
Website: https://www.oic.ie/
Email: info@oic.ie
Lo-Call: 1890 223 030
Tel: 01 639 5689
Fax: 01 639 5674
Where can you get more information regarding the Freedom of Information Act?
Kildare County Council has published its FOI publication scheme in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014 - click here
Further information on FOI is available from:
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform,
Government Buildings,
Upper Merrion Street,
Dublin 2.
D02 R583
Tel: +353 (1) 604 5388
Fax: +353 (1) 639 6281
E-mail: foi@per.gov.ie
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2
D02 HE97
Tel: +353 (1) 639 5689
Locall: 1890 253 238
Fax: +353 (1) 639 5674
E-mail: info@oic.gov.ie
Web: https://www.oic.ie/
Central Policy Unit,
Floor 3, 7-9 Merrion Row,
Dublin 2
D02 V223
Tel: 076 100 7345/7332
E-mail: cpu@per.gov.ie
Web: https://foi.gov.ie/