Freedom of Information/Access to Information on the Environment

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 establishes the three following rights:

• the right to access official government records held by any public body that conforms to Section 6 of the Act
• the right to have personal information which relates to the individual making the request corrected or updated when such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading
• the right to be given reasons for decisions taken by public bodies that affect them

These rights grant people the ability to seek access to personal information relating to them, regardless of when the information was first compiled. Non-personal records can only be requested if created after 21 April 1998.

The department has prepared an FOI Publication Scheme which includes a log of all non-personal Freedom of Information requests received by the department and a range of other information on the department and its work.

FOI requests should be submitted in writing, by post or email to:

All requests should include the following pieces of information:

• a statement that the request is being made under the FOI Act
• a detailed outline of the records requested
• if applicable, the date range which applies to your request
• the format in which you would like to receive the released records

More information is available on the FOI website.

The European Communities (AIE) Regulations 2007 grants legal rights to those seeking access to information on the environment from public authorities.

It states that information relating to the environment which is either held by, or for, a public authority must be made available on request to any person, subject to certain exceptions.

To make an AIE request, applicants must submit a written request by post or email to:

All requests should include the following pieces of information:

• a statement noting that the application is being made under AIE Regulations
• the applicant's contact information
• a detailed description of the environmental information being sought
• the preferred format in which you would like to receive the information

If we do not have access to the requested information, we will either forward your application on to the relevant public authority or advise you of where to direct your request. One way or the other, you will be notified.