Making an FOI Request

How do I make an FOI REQUEST?

As most of our Schools/Centres may now be closed for the holiday period, can you please ensure that you submit your FOI requests to the either of the addresses below.

  • A request must be made in writing;
  • The request must state that it is being made under the Freedom of Information Act, 2014;
  • The request must be signed and dated;
  • The request must state clearly the exact records/information being requested and supply as much detail (i.e. school/centre/office location, dates in attendance etc.) as possible;
  • The request should state clearly the manner in which access is sought, for example, to view the original in a Tipperary Education and Training Board location or to receive photocopies of the original, hear / view audio-visual record, obtain a copy of a computer disk or other electronic device etc.;
  • Supply proof of identity as relevant to the information sought;
  • Tipperary Education and Training Board will accept requests by letter, fax, email.

Send the FOI request to:

Ms. Fiona Campbell,
FOI Officer,
Tipperary Education and Training Board,
Church Road,
Nenagh,
Co. Tipperary.

What Records can be accessed under FOI from Tipperary Education and Training Board?

  • All records created on and after the 14th April 2015;
  • All personal records, whenever created that are still in the position of the Tipperary Education and Training Board;
  • All non–personal records created backdated to 21st April 2008;
  • Earlier non-personal records (where they exist) if needed to understand later records which are accessed.

An individual may make a request for access to records. This request must be in writing stating that the request is made under the FOI Act and containing sufficient particulars in relation to the information concerned to enable the record to be identified.

A member of the public has the right to request information regarding acts of public bodies affecting them. A Freedom of Information request is a formal procedure and the public body is required to respond within four weeks.   The request will be considered in accordance with the Act having regard to the exemptions provided for which include:

  • Personal Information (other than information relating to the person making the request);
  • Information supplied to the Tipperary Education and Training Board in confidence;
  • Law enforcement and public safety;
  • Commercially sensitive information;
  • Deliberations of public bodies;
  • Functions and negotiations of public bodies.

Details of FOI Process and Rights to Appeal:

  • An acknowledgement will be sent within 10 working days, of receipt of a valid request;
  • The Tipperary Education and Training Board will issue a decision to the requester within 20 working days upon receipt of a valid request;
  • Notification will be sent, if an extension is necessary to facilitate the completion of the request;
  • If an individual is dissatisfied with the decision made they may send an appeal in writing to the Internal Reviewer, named in the Decision Letter within four weeks of the original decision. This review is independent of the initial Decision Maker’s decision;
  • A complete decision on the appeal will be sent to the requester within 15 working days of receipt of appeal;
  • If dissatisfied with the Internal Reviewer’s decision the requester may appeal directly to the Information Commissioner (http://www.oic.ie) within six months from date of the internal reviewer’s decision, where an independent review of the matter will be carried out.

Fees relating to FOI requests:

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 provides for a completely new FOI fees regime. The following is a summary of the new fee structure in respect of non-personal requests: –

  • The €15.00 application fee has been abolished;
  • There is a minimum threshold of €101 below which no search, retrieval and copying fees can be charged.   Once the charge reaches €101, full fees apply;
  • There is a cap on the amount of search, retrieval and copying fees that can be charged of €500;
  • There is a further upper limit on estimated search, retrieval and copying fees at €700.00 above which an FOI body can refuse to process a request, unless the requester is prepared to refine the request to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below the limit;
  • The fee for internal review under Section 21 is now €30.00 (€10.00 for medical card holders and their dependants);
  • The fee for appeals to the Information Commissioner under Section 22 is now €50.00 (€15.00 for medical card holders and their dependants).

Information Commissioner

The main functions of the Information Commissioner can be summarised as:

  • The review (on application) of the decisions of the public bodies in relation to FOI requests and where necessary, the making of binding, new decisions;
  • The review of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 to ensure that public bodies comply with their provisions;
  • The fostering an attitude of openness among public bodies by the encouragement of the voluntary publication of information above and beyond the minimum requirements of the Acts;
  • The preparation and publication of commentaries on the practical operation of the Acts; and
  • The publication of an Annual Report.

The Tipperary Education and Training Board Liaison Officer for the Office of the Information Commissioner:

Ms Fiona Campbell,
Head of Corporate Services,
Tipperary Education and Training Board,
Church Road,
Nenagh,
Co. Tipperary.

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