View source for Adapting WDTK for Ireland

== Summary of the FOI Act in Ireland ==

* FOI Act allows users to request both personal and non-personal data
* Includes provisions for Publication Schemes
* Fees - significant charges apply for all requests for non-personal data (€15 up-front fee, €30 hourly fees for search/retrieval effort) plus extra charges for internal reviews (€75), appeals to OIC (€150).  Discounts apply to Medical Card holders.
* Up-front payment is always required, usually by cheque or bankers order.  Some public bodies allow on-line payment.  Some authorities will request a deposit to cover in advance expected search/retrieval costs, and won't release information until the full fee is paid.  The search fee is meant to be for voluminous requests,  some authorities will waive these.  
* The request can be made by email.  It should specify that it is a request is made under the FOI Act, and that it is the preference of the requester to receive the information by email.
* Real names must be used, as the FOI request needs to consider personal information
* Exemptions to providing data exist, similar to UK FOI.
* Requesters can request an Internal Review, and appeals can then be made to the OIC
* Many contact details of the FOI Officers are listed here: http://www.foi.gov.ie/foi-officers
* Requests can be made in either English or Irish.  Most tend to be in English


== Time Limits ==

* Acknowledgements within 10 working days (ie excl Sat, Sun, IE public hols)
* Confirm or Deny within 20 working days, plus provision of the info
* Further 20 working days allowed under certain circumstances (eg for voluminous requests)
* Internal Reviews must take no longer than 15 working days
* Clock gets reset if the authority transfers the request to another public authority
* Clock doesn't start until initial fee is received 
* Clock suspended pending payment/receipt of fees, then an additional 5 days allowed to process payment before information is released  


== Environmental Information ==

* main legislation is the The European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 133 of 2007).  Also known as "AIE". 
* Further information:  http://www.environ.ie/en/AboutUs/AccesstoInformationontheEnvironment/
* As per the EIR in the UK, more authorities are captured under these regs than the FOI Act.
* No fee to make a request.  Search/Retrieval charges can be made €21/hour.  Fees usually waived if less than €10.  Deposits can be taken.  No fee for internal reviews.  No fee for inspecting the information in situ.
* Requests need to state that they are being made under the AIE Regulations.
* Appeals are allowed to the Commissioner for Environmental Information, who is the same person as the OIC.  
* A fee of €150 is charged for appeals to the CEI - http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/Temporary-AccesstoInformationontheEnvironment/CommissionerforEnvironmentalInformation/
* Time limits:  20 working days for requests, plus further 20 days for complex or voluminous requests.  Internal reviews within 20 working days. 


== Main changes to WDTK required ==


* Country-based segregation of public authorities between the various legislations that apply to them (eg in searches, lists of authorities or requests, templates, on-screen text, help text etc).  
* new time to comply calculations, including ability to "stop/start the clock" where applicable.  This is especially required to allow for an interface with the fee process
* a need to additionally highlight that FOI requests in Ireland can carry significant costs (€15 per request + €30/hour search fees, €75 internal review, €150 OIC appeal).


== Useful Links ==

* Legislation: FOI Act 1997 text as enacted, plus amendments  http://www.foi.gov.ie/legislation
* Fees summary: http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/MakeanFOIRequest/Fees/
* Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC): http://www.oic.gov.ie/en/
* FOI Guidance site:  http://www.foi.gov.ie/ (maintained by the Freedom Of Information Central Policy Unit in the Department of Finance)