Make an FOI request

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act provides that from 21 April 1998, every person has the following legal rights:

• the right to access official records held by government departments or other public bodies listed in the Act
• the right to have personal information held on them corrected or updated where such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading
• the right to be given reasons for decisions taken by public bodies that affect them.

The Act requires public bodies to respond to requests from the public for information they hold. In most cases, public bodies must give their decision on a request within 4 weeks of receiving it.

You should make your request in writing to the Freedom of Information Unit, Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 RC96 or by e-mail to: foi@education.gov.ie

If you wish you can use the department's standard standard application form to make your request or the application form for former residents of industrial and reformatory Schools depending on the type of information you are seeking.

Your request should include the following:

• a statement that the request is being made under the FOI Act
• As much information as possible about the records being sought in order to facilitate the search. Where possible, please try to indicate the time period for which you wish to access records. Also, if possible, try to specify the areas of the department which you feel would be most relevant to your request. The department’s FOI Publication Scheme provides information about the structure of the department, its records and its decision making, which may help you to identify areas within the department relevant to your request.
• the format in which you wish to receive any records released (e.g. photocopies)
• for personal requests, some form of identification (copy of passport, driving licence, birth certificate, etc.) or letter of consent if solicitors are acting on your behalf
• please include a day time telephone number, if possible, so that you may be contacted quickly if it is necessary to clarify details of your request.

If you need any help, staff in the FOI Unit will be happy to assist you.

There is no fee for making a request under Freedom of Information.

It is very unlikely that any fees will be charged in respect of personal records, except where a large number of records is involved. Requests for personal information includes information relating to your children or relating to deceased people.

In the case of non-personal requests, charges may be applied for the time spent finding records and for any reproduction costs incurred by the department in providing you with the material requested where the total cost exceeds €100. Where this minimum threshold (equivalent to 5 free hours) is exceeded, a rate of €20 per hour will be charged for the full amount of time spent.

A maximum ceiling of €500 generally applies to such fees but where the cost of search, retrieval and copying is greater than €700, the request may be refused unless the scope of the request is narrowed.

List of fees

If you are dissatisfied with the department's response you can have a decision re-examined by a more senior member of staff within the department. Applications for review of a decision, together with a fee of €30 or a reduced fee of €10 for medical card holders should be addressed to:

Note: These fees apply only to non-personal requests.

If you are still unhappy with the decision, you have the right to appeal the decision to the Information Commissioner. Applications with appropriate fees (€50 or a reduced fee of €15 for medical card holders) should be forwarded directly to the following address: