Saoráil Faisnéise - Freedom of Information
Beartas um Shaoráil Faisnéise Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí
Leabhar Tagartha Ailt 15 & 16 den Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise.
Réamhrá:
Bunaíonn an tAcht um Shaoráil Faisnéise 1997 trí cheart reachtúla nua:
- Ceart dlíthiúil ag gach duine rochtain a fháil ar fhaisnéis atá i seilbh comhlachtaí poiblí
- Ceart dlíthiúil ag gach duine faisnéis oifigiúil a bhaineann leis/léi féin a leasú nuair atá sé neamhiomlán, mícheart nó míthreorach.
- Ceart dlíthiúil cúiseanna a fháil le cinntí a bhaineann leis an duine féin.
Dearbhaíonn an tAcht an ceart atá ag baill den phobal rochtain a fháil ar fhaisnéis oifigiúil a mhéid is féidir i gcomhréir le leas an phobail agus le ceart chun príobháideachta daoine aonair .
Tá an tAcht um Shaoráil Faisnéise deartha chun rochtain phoiblí a cheadú ar fhaisnéis atá i seilbh comhlachtaí poiblí nach mbíonn ar fáil de ghnáth trí ghnáthbhealaí.
Tugann Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí, atá ina bhall lánaimseartha den ghréasán náisiúnta d’Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais ó 2002, aitheantas don 31 Bealtaine 2006 mar an dáta éifeachtach chun an tAcht um Shaoráil Faisnéise a chomhlíonadh.
Struchtúr Bainistíochta Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí:
Tá an tIonad atá tiomanta do thacú le forbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach múinteoirí agus pobail scoile á bhainistiú ag Coiste Bainistíochta ar a bhfuil 9 gcomhalta a thoghtar go bliantúil as na croíbhaill a bhíonn i láthair ag an gcruinniú ginearálta bliantúil agus 3 bhall breise a fhéadfar a chomhthoghadh ón gComhairle. pobal oideachais níos leithne faoi réir ballraíochta uasta de 12.
Tá bunbhallraíocht teoranta do mhúinteoirí ar seirbhís laistigh de dhobharcheantar sainithe an Ionaid.
Tá an Coiste Bainistíochta freagrach as reáchtáil laethúil an Ionaid de réir bheartais agus nósanna imeachta aitheanta na Roinne Oideachais agus Eolaíochta agus toghann siad oifigigh agus ceapann siad foireann de réir na gcuspóirí seo agus laistigh de shrianta airgeadais an lae.
Seo a leanas an struchtúr bainistíochta reatha:
- Coiste Bainistíochta
- Cathaoirleach
- Leas-Chathaoirleach
- Cisteoir
- Baill an Choiste
- Stiúrthóir
- Foireann Riaracháin
- Tacaíocht Rúnaíochta
- Foireann Chúnta
Feidhmeanna an Ionaid:
Is í príomhfheidhm Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí ná oiliúint, forbairt agus tacaíocht a sholáthar do mhúinteoirí agus don phobal scoile i gcoitinne. Chuige sin tugtar tacaíocht do chomhpháirtíochtaí a fheabhsaíonn seachadadh tionscnamh náisiúnta agus spreagtar tionscnaimh áitiúla ón mbun aníos, a dhéanann iarracht athrú a bhainistiú, nuair is féidir.
- Baintear cuspóirí an Ionaid amach ar na bealaí seo a leanas:
- Oiliúint inseirbhíse a sholáthar chun tacú le riachtanais an chórais mar a chinneann an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna
- Oiliúint a dhearadh agus a sheachadadh mar fhreagra ar riachtanais a ndearnadh taighde orthu agus a aithníodh go háitiúil.
- Soláthar acmhainní, áiseanna de réir riachtanais aitheanta na gcliant.
Eolas ar fáil san Ionad:
Cuireann Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí eolas ar fáil go rialta faoina áiseanna, acmhainní, deiseanna forbartha gairmiúla leanúnaí agus gníomhaíochtaí ginearálta trí theagmháil dhíreach a dhéanamh le scoileanna laistigh dár gceantar, trí bhróisiúir a fhoilsiú, trí bhileoga agus nuachtlitreacha a eisiúint nó trína shuíomh Gréasáin ag www.westcorkeducationcentre.ie
Is féidir an chatagóir seo d’fhaisnéis atá ar fáil go rialta a fháil trí theagmháil a dhéanamh go díreach leis an Ionad gan dul i muinín na nósanna imeachta um Shaoráil Faisnéise.
I measc na n-aicmí faisnéise eile a d’fhéadfaí a iarraidh faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise tá taifid ar chruinnithe bainistíochta, taifid a thagraíonn do riar na gclár inseirbhíse náisiúnta, comhaid riaracháin inmheánacha, tuarascáil bhliantúil an ionaid, taifid airgeadais an Lárionaid, taifid phearsanra agus sonraí faoi ghníomhaíocht CPD le taifid tinrimh agus foirmeacha meastóireachta a chur san áireamh.
Iarratais faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise:
Tá sé de cheart ag iarratasóirí rochtain a fháil ar gach taifead a thagann faoi scóip an Achta um SF. Áiríonn siad seo gach faisnéis phearsanta, gach taifead a cruthaíodh ó thosach feidhme an Achta (21 Aibreán 1998) agus taifid phearsanra na mball foirne ar seirbhís.
Freagrófar an t-iarratas, de réir na hoibleagáide dlíthiúla a bhronn an tAcht orainn, laistigh de thréimhse ceithre seachtaine . Sainmhínítear seachtain san Acht mar 5 lá seachtaine as a chéile, gan an Satharn, an Domhnach agus laethanta saoire poiblí a áireamh.
Féadfaidh tú athbhreithniú inmheánach a lorg ar an gcéad chinneadh a rinne an tOifigeach um Shaoráil Faisnéise má tá tú míshásta le nó mura bhfaigheann tú freagra ar d’iarratas tosaigh laistigh de cheithre seachtaine ó d’iarratas tosaigh.
Ba chóir Iarratais faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise a sheoladh chuig:
Oifigeach um Shaoráil Faisnéise,
Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí,
An Chearnóg,
Dún Mánmhaí,
D'iarratas a thiomsú:
(i) (Ba cheart d’iarratas a bheith i scríbhinn agus, más infheidhme, an táille chuí a bheith ag gabháil leis (féach “táillí” thíos)) Ba cheart an táille ábhartha a íoc le: Dréacht Bainc, Ordú Airgid, Ordú Poist nó Seic tarraingthe ar bhanc i bPoblacht na hÉireann, iníoctha le Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí.
Féadfaidh tú úsáid a bhaint as an bhfoirm dar teideal ‘Iarratas ar Fhaisnéis faoi na hAchtanna um Shaoráil Faisnéise’ atá ar fáil go forleathan.
Mura bhfuil an fhoirm atá leagtha amach thuas á úsáid agat, ba chóir go léireodh d’iarratas go bhfuil an fhaisnéis á lorg faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise.
(ii) Má theastaíonn freagra uait i bhformáid ar leith .i. fótachóip, diosca ríomhaire, srl. luaigh é seo le do thoil i d'iarratas.
(iii) Bí chomh mionsonraithe agus chomh sonrach agus is féidir agus d’iarratas á chur le chéile mar cabhróidh sé seo linn déileáil leis. Is féidir go dtabhófar táillí níos lú ar chuardach agus ar aisghabháil dá bharr freisin i gcásanna nach n-íoctar iad. Nuair is féidir déan iarracht le do thoil an tréimhse ama ar mian leat rochtain a fháil ar thaifid a chur in iúl m.sh. taifid a cruthaíodh idir Bealtaine 2003 agus Nollaig 2003. Má bhíonn deacracht ar bith agat le d’iarratas a ullmhú beidh ár bhfoireann sásta cabhrú leat ina leith seo.
(iv) D’fhéadfadh go n-iarrfaí ort d’aitheantas a chruthú, go háirithe agus faisnéis phearsanta á lorg agat, agus mar sin d’fhéadfaí iarraidh ort do Theastas Breithe, Ceadúnas Tiomána, Pas nó cineál eile aitheantais a thabhairt ar aird.
(v) Cuir uimhir theileafóin lae san áireamh, más féidir, ionas gur féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh leat go tapa más gá sonraí d’iarratais a shoiléiriú.
Tá áthas orainn cúnamh a thabhairt do bhaill den phobal a lorgaíonn comhairle maidir le hiarratas a dhéanamh.
Cúnamh do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas:
Táimid ar fáil chun cúnamh a sholáthar do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas a gcearta faoin Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise a fheidhmiú (m.sh. glacadh le hiarratais ó bhéal ó iarratasóirí nach bhfuil in ann léamh, priontáil agus/nó scríobh de bharr a míchumais, rud a chuireann ar chumas an iarratasóra taifid a iniúchadh nó a bheith acu). mínithe dó/di).
Cinnteoireacht SF in Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Iarthar Chorcaí:
Is é an tOifigeach um Shaoráil Faisnéise a dhéanann Cinntí um Shaoráil Faisnéise. Is féidir achomhairc inmheánacha nó mar mhalairt air sin is féidir achomharc a dhéanamh go díreach chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise.
Cearta Athbhreithnithe agus Achomhairc:
Leagann an tAcht sraith díolúintí amach chun faisnéis íogair a chosaint i gcás go bhféadfadh sé damáiste a dhéanamh do leasanna tábhachtacha an Stáit nó tríú páirtithe dá nochtfaí í. I gcás ina ndéanann Comhlacht Poiblí na forálacha seo a agairt chun faisnéis a choinneáil siar, féadfar an cinneadh a achomharc. Féadfaidh cinntí maidir le rochtain a iarchur, táillí, foirmeacha rochtana, etc. a bheith ina n-ábhar achomhairc freisin. Is iad seo a leanas sonraí na meicníochtaí achomhairc:
Athbhreithniú ag an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise:
Tar éis duit athbhreithniú inmheánach a chríochnú, féadfaidh tú athbhreithniú neamhspleách ar an gcinneadh a lorg ón gCoimisinéir Faisnéise. Chomh maith leis sin mura bhfuil freagra faighte agat ar d’iarratas ar athbhreithniú inmheánach laistigh de 3 seachtaine, meastar gur diúltú é seo agus is féidir leat achomharc a dhéanamh chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise.
Is féidir achomhairc i scríbhinn, agus, más infheidhme, in éineacht leis an táille chuí, (féach faoi Táillí thíos) a dhéanamh go díreach chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise ag an seoladh seo a leanas:
Oifig an Choimisinéara Faisnéise
18 Sráid Líosain Íochtarach,
Baile Átha Cliath 2
Teileafón: 01-6395689
Facs: 01-6395676
R-phost:
láithreán gréasáin: http://www.oic.ie
Táillí Iarratais:
Ní mór táille iarratais chaighdeánach de €15 a bheith in éineacht le hiarratas um Shaoráil Faisnéise arna dhéanamh faoi alt 7 den Acht ar thaifead nó ar thaifid ina bhfuil faisnéis neamhphearsanta .
Tá táille laghdaithe €10 i gceist má tá an duine atá ag déanamh iarratais dá leithéid clúdaithe ag cárta leighis.
Tá na hiarratais/na hiarratais seo a leanas díolmhaithe ó tháillí iarratais:
(a) Iarratas faoi alt 7 ar thaifead nó ar thaifid nach bhfuil iontu ach faisnéis phearsanta a bhaineann leis an iarratasóir.
(b) Iarratas faoi alt 17 (ceart chun taifid a bhaineann le faisnéis phearsanta a leasú).
(c) Iarratas faoi alt 18 (ceart duine chun faisnéise maidir le gníomhartha comhlachtaí poiblí a dhéanann difear don duine).
Athbhreithniú ag an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise:
Ní mór táille iarratais caighdeánach de €150 a chur le hiarratais chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise ar athbhreithniú ar chinntí a dhéanann comhlachtaí poiblí faoi alt 34 den Acht.
Tá táille laghdaithe de €50 i gceist má:
(a) más sealbhóir cárta leighis nó cleithiúnaí sealbhóra cárta leighis an duine a dhéanfaidh an t-iarratas nó
(b) sonraítear an duine in alt 29(2) i.e. tríú páirtí a bhfuil an ceart aige nó aici iarratas a dhéanamh go díreach chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise i gcás ina gcinnfidh comhlacht poiblí a gcuid faisnéise a scaoileadh ar fhorais leas an phobail.
Níl táille iarratais ag teastáil ó na hiarratais seo a leanas chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise:
(a) Iarratas a bhaineann le taifid nach bhfuil iontu ach faisnéis phearsanta a bhaineann leis an iarratasóir.
(b) Iarratas i ndáil le cinneadh faoi alt 17 (ceart chun taifid a bhaineann le faisnéis phearsanta a leasú).
(c) Iarratas i ndáil le cinneadh faoi alt 18 (ceart an duine chun faisnéise maidir le gníomhartha comhlachtaí poiblí a dhéanann difear don duine).
(d) Iarratas i ndáil le cinneadh táille nó éarlais is mó ná €25.00 a ghearradh faoi alt 47 i leith cuardach agus aisghabháil agus fótachóipeáil taifead (cinntí i ndáil le táillí nó taiscí a ghearradh le haghaidh cuardaigh agus aisghabháil agus/nó níl fótachóipeáil níos lú ná €25 faoi réir athbhreithniú ag an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise).
(d) Iarratas i ndáil le cinneadh táille a ghearradh faoi alt 47(6A), nó táille de mhéid áirithe faoi alt 47(6A), ar an bhforas nach bhfuil sna taifid lena mbaineann ach faisnéis phearsanta a bhaineann le nach sealbhóir cárta leighis nó cleithiúnaí sealbhóra cárta leighis an t-iarratasóir nó an t-iarratasóir.
(e) Achomharc i gcoinne chinneadh athbhreithnithe inmheánaigh a mheastar a bheith diúltaithe toisc nach ndearnadh an cinneadh sin laistigh de na teorainneacha ama riachtanacha.
Táillí Cuardaigh agus Aisghabhála agus Fótachóipeála:
Féadfar táillí a ghearradh freisin as taifid a chuardach agus a aisghabháil mar seo a leanas
- Maidir le taifid phearsanta, beidh táillí i gceist maidir leis an gcostas a bhaineann le cóipeáil na dtaifead a iarrtar.
- Maidir le faisnéis eile (neamhphearsanta), féadfar táillí a ghearradh i leith an ama a chaitear ar thaifid a aimsiú agus a chóipeáil go héifeachtach, bunaithe ar ráta caighdeánach in aghaidh na huaire de €20.95. Ní bheidh feidhm ag aon táillí i leith an ama a chaitheann comhlachtaí poiblí ag breithniú iarrataí.
D’fhéadfadh éarlais a bheith iníoctha nuair is dócha go sáróidh an táille iomlán €50.79. Sna cúinsí seo, cabhróimid, má iarrtar sin, leis an duine den phobal an t-iarratas a leasú chun méid na héarlaise a laghdú nó a dhíchur.
Féadfar táillí a tharscaoileadh sna cúinsí seo a leanas
- i gcás inar mó an costas a bhain le bailiú na táille agus cuntas a thabhairt uirthi ná méid na táille; nó
- i gcás ina mbeadh an fhaisnéis ina cuidiú ar leith chun saincheist a bhfuil tábhacht náisiúnta léi a thuiscint; nó
- i gcás faisnéise pearsanta, i gcás nach mbeadh muirir den sórt sin réasúnach ag féachaint d'acmhainn an iarrthóra.
Leagann Alt 47 den Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise amach na rialacha chun táillí cuardaigh agus aisghabhála a chur i bhfeidhm. Socraítear táillí faoi láthair mar a leanas de réir Ionstraimí Reachtúla 264 de 2003, 139 de 1998 agus 13 de 1997:
- €20.95 in aghaidh na huaire - cuardach agus aisghabháil
- €0.04 an bhileog le haghaidh fótachóip
- €0.51 ar diosca ríomhaire 3½ orlach
- €10.16 ar CD-ROM
- €6.35 ar Radagraf (X-gha)
Cad atá le déanamh i gcás iarratais SF ar mhiontuairiscí chruinnithe an Choiste Bainistíochta:
- Cuirfimid an t-eolas chuig xxxx ar ríomhphost ar maidin xxxx roimh 1:00
- Ní gá cóipeanna sínithe de mhiontuairiscí a sheoladh. Is leor cóipeanna clóscríofa le hathchóirithe. Úsáid XXXX in ionad na n-athfhoilseachán.
- Ní sholáthrófar ach miontuairiscí chruinnithe an choiste bainistíochta agus ní sholáthrófar miontuairiscí coiste iniúchta agus riosca nó fochoiste eile
- Athraithe:
- - Ainmneacha uile chomhaltaí an choiste bainistíochta, na foirne, na dteagascóirí, na múinteoirí, na scoileanna nó aon rud inar féidir duine a aithint. Tá sé seo le cur san áireamh cá
- Ainmnítear baill an choiste bainistíochta i bhfreastal na gcruinnithe ar cheart eagarthóireacht a dhéanamh orthu. (Comhairle GDPR)
- - Aon fhaisnéis atá íogair ó thaobh na tráchtála de, amhail ainmneacha gnólachtaí nó soláthraithe seirbhíse.
- Is féidir méideanna atá liostaithe ar nós iarmhéideanna bainc, méideanna maoinithe nó méideanna a chaitear ar thionscadail ar leith a áireamh mar go léireoidh an fhaisnéis seo ár dtrédhearcacht mar eagraíocht a fhaigheann maoiniú poiblí. Ba chóir a bheith cúramach gan méid atá iníoctha le haon duine ar leith a aithint.
Beartas daingnithe ag an gCoiste Bainistíochta an 24 Feabhra 2020.
West Cork Education Centre Freedom of Information policy
Freedom of Information Act Reference Sections 15 & 16 Reference Book.
Introduction:
The Freedom of Information Act 1997 establishes three new statutory rights:
- A legal right for each person to access information held by public bodies
- A legal right for each person to have official information relating to him/herself amended where it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading.
- A legal right to obtain reasons for decisions affecting oneself.
The Act asserts the right of members of the public to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy of individuals.
The FOI Act is designed to allow public access to information held by public bodies that is not routinely available through normal channels.
The West Cork Education Support Centre which has been a full-time member of the national network of Education Support Centre since 2002 acknowledges May 31st. 2006 as the effective date for compliance with the Freedom of Information Act.
Management Structure of the West Cork Education Support Centre:
The Centre which is dedicated to supporting the continuing professional development of teachers and school communities is managed by a Management Committee comprising 9 members elected annually from the core members present at the annual general meeting and an additional 3 members who may be co-opted from the wider educational community subject to a maximum membership of 12.
Core membership is restricted to serving teachers within the defined catchment area of the Centre.
The Management Committee are responsible for the daily running of the Centre in compliance with the recognised policies and procedures of the Department of Education & Science and elect officers and appoint staff in accordance with these objectives and within the financial constraints of the day.
The current management structure is as follows:
- Management Committee
- Chairperson
- Vice-Chairperson
- Treasurer
- Committee members
- Director
- Administrative Staff
- Secretarial Support
- Ancillary Staff
Functions of the Centre:
The core function of West Cork Education Support Centre is to provide training, development and support for teachers and the wider school community. To that end partnerships that enhance the delivery of national initiatives are supported and local bottom-up initiatives, which endeavour to manage change, are encouraged where possible.
- The Centre objectives are achieved in the following ways:
- Delivering in-service training to support system needs as determined by the Department of Education & Skills
- Designing and delivering training in response to locally researched and identified needs.
- Provision of resources, facilities in line with identified needs of clients.
Information available in the Centre:
West Cork Education Support Centre regularly provides information about its facilities, resources, continuing professional development opportunities and general activities by directly contacting schools within our catchment area, by publishing brochures, issuing flyers and newsletters or by means of its website at www.westcorkeducationcentre.ie
This category of routinely available information may be obtained by contacting the Centre directly without recourse to the FOI procedures.
Other classes of information which may be requested under the FOI Act include records of management meetings, records referring to the administration of national in-service programmes, internal administrative files, the annual report of the centre, financial records of the Centre, personnel records and details of CPD activity to include attendance records and evaluation forms.
Applications Under the FOI Act:
Applicants have the right to access all records which come under the scope of the FOI Act. These include all personal information, all records created since the commencement of the Act (21st April 1998) and personnel records of serving staff members.
Request will, in accordance with the legal obligation bestowed upon us by the Act, be responded to within a four week period. A week is defined in the Act to mean 5 consecutive weekdays, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
You may seek internal review of the initial decision made by the Freedom of Information Officer if you are dissatisfied with or do not receive a reply to your initial request within four weeks of your initial application.
Applications Under the FOI Act Should be addressed to:
Freedom of Information Officer,
West Cork Education Support Centre,
The Square,
Dunmanway,
Compiling your application:
(i) (Your application should be in writing and, if applicable, accompanied by the appropriate fee (see "fees" below). The relevant fee should be paid by ; Bank Draft, Money Order, Postal Order or Cheque drawn on a bank in the Republic of Ireland, made payable to The West Cork Education Support Centre.
You may use the form entitled ‘Request for Information under the Freedom of Information Acts’ which is widely available.
If you are not using the form outlined above, then your application should indicate that the information is sought under the Freedom of Information Act.
(ii) If you require a reply in a particular format i.e. photocopy, computer disk, etc. please mention this in your application.
(iii) Please be as detailed and as specific as possible when compiling your application as this will assist us in dealing with it. It can also result in lesser charges being incurred on search and retrieval in cases where these fail to be paid. Where possible please try to indicate the time period for which you wish to access records e.g. records created between May 2003 and December 2003. If you have any difficulty in preparing your application our staff will be happy to assist you in this regard.
(iv) You may be required to prove your identity, especially when seeking personal information, so you may, therefore, be asked to produce your Birth Certificate, Driving Licence, Passport or other form of identity.
(v) Please include a daytime telephone number, if possible, so that you may be contacted quickly if it is necessary to clarify details of your request.
We are happy to provide assistance to members of the public who seek advice on making a request.
Assistance to persons with a disability:
We are available to provide assistance to persons with a disability to exercise their rights under the FOI Act (e.g. accepting oral requests from requesters who are unable to read, print and/or write due to their disability, enabling the requester to inspect or have records explained to him/her).
FOI Decision Making in The West Cork Education Support Centre:
Freedom of Information Decisions are made by the Freedom of Information Officer. Internal appeals are possible or alternatively appeals may be made directly to the Information Commissioner.
Rights of Review and Appeal:
The Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may damage key interests of the State or of third parties. Where a Public Body invokes these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to deferral of access, charges, forms of access, etc. may also be the subject of appeal. Details of the appeals mechanisms are as follows:
Review by the Information Commissioner:
Following completion of internal review, you may seek independent review of the decision from the Information Commissioner. Also if you have not received a reply to your application for internal review within 3 weeks, this is deemed to be a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Information Commissioner.
Appeals in writing, and, if applicable, accompanied by the appropriate fee, (see under Fees below) may be made directly to the Information Commissioner at the following address:
Office of the Information Commissioner
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2
Telephone: 01-6395689
Fax: 01-6395676
E-mail:
Website: http://www.oic.ie
Application Fees:
A standard application fee of €15 must accompany an FOI request made under section 7 of the Act for a record or records containing non-personal information.
A reduced fee of €10 applies if the person making such a request is covered by a medical card.
The following requests/applications are exempt from application fees:
(a) A request under section 7 for a record or records containing only personal information related to the requester.
(b) An application under section 17 (right of amendment of records relating to personal information).
(c) An application under section 18 (right of person to information regarding acts of pubic bodies affecting the person).
Review by Information Commissioner:
A standard application fee of €150 must accompany applications to the Information Commissioner for review of decisions made by public bodies under section 34 of the Act.
A reduced fee of €50 applies if:
(a) the person bringing the application is a medical card holder or a dependant of a medical card holder or
(b) the person is specified in section 29(2) i.e. a third party with the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner where a public body decides to release their information on public interest grounds.
The following applications to the Information Commissioner do not require an application fee:
(a) An application concerning records containing only personal information related to the applicant.
(b) An application in relation a decision under section 17 (right of amendment of records relating to personal information).
(c) An application in relation to a decision under section 18 (right of person to information regarding acts of pubic bodies affecting the person).
(d) An application in relation to a decision to charge a fee or deposit exceeding €25.00 under section 47 in respect of search and retrieval and photocopying of records (decisions in relation to the charging of fees or deposits for search and retrieval and/or photocopying of less than €25 are not subject to review by the Information Commissioner).
(d) An application in relation to a decision to charge a fee under section 47(6A), or a fee of a particular amount under section 47(6A), on the grounds that the records concerned do not contain only personal information related to the requester or the requester is not a medical card holder or a dependant of a medical card holder.
(e) An appeal of an internal review decision which is deemed to be refused because that decision was not made within the required time limits.
Search and Retrieval and Photocopying Fees:
Fees may also be charged for search and retrieval of records as follows
- In respect of personal records, fees in respect of the cost of copying the records requested will apply.
- In respect of other (non-personal) information, fees may be charged in respect of the time spent in efficiently locating and copying records, based on a standard hourly rate of €20.95. No charges shall apply in respect of the time spent by public bodies in considering requests.
A deposit may be payable where the total fee is likely to exceed €50.79. In these circumstances, we will, if requested, assist the member of the public to amend the request so as to reduce or eliminate the amount of the deposit.
Charges may be waived in the following circumstances
- where the cost of collecting and accounting for the fee would exceed the amount of the fee; or
- where the information would be of particular assistance to the understanding of an issue of national importance; or
- in the case of personal information, where such charges would not be reasonable having regard to the means of the requester.
Section 47 of the FOI Act sets out the rules for applying search and retrieval fees. Fees are currently set as follows in accordance with Statutory Instruments Nos. 264 of 2003, 139 of 1998 and 13 of 1997:
- €20.95 per hour - search and retrieval
- €0.04 per sheet for a photocopy
- €0.51 for a 3½ inch computer diskette
- €10.16 for a CD-ROM
- €6.35 for a Radiograph (X-Ray)
What to do in the event of a FOI request for minutes of Management Committee meetings:
- We will submit the information to xxxx by email on the morning of xxxx before 1:00
- Signed copies of minutes do not need to be sent. Typed copies with redactions will suffice. The use of XXXX in the place of redactions.
- Only management committee meeting minutes will be provided and not audit and risk committee or other subcommittee minutes
- Redacted:
- - All names of management committee members, staff, tutors, teachers, schools or anything where an individual can be identified. This is to include where
- management committee members are named in the attendance of meetings which should be redacted. (GDPR advice)
- - Any commercially sensitive information such as names of businesses or service providers.
- Amounts listed such as bank balances, funding amounts or amounts spent on specific projects can be included as this information will show our transparency as a publicly funded organisation. Care should be taken not to identify an amount which is payable to any one individual.
Policy ratified by the Management Committee on 24th February 2020.