Service
Freedom of Information requests for the department
From Department of Social Protection
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Last updated on
The Department is currently facing an unprecedented challenge in the face of the public health emergency arising from COVID-19. In light of this, it is possible that the Department may not be able to respond to some FOI requests within the normal deadlines.
The Department will be in contact with you should this be the case in relation to your request.
In dealing with Freedom of Information requests, the Department is cognisant of the policy guidance published by the FOI Central Policy Unit here
The Department continues to monitor the situation as it evolves and will provide further updates as appropriate.
Should you require any further information please contact the Department by email at Email: foi@welfare.ie
The Freedom of Information 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
These rights mean that people can seek access to personal information held on them no matter when the information was created, and to other records created after 21 April 1998. Access to information under the Act is subject to certain exemptions and involves specific procedures and time limits.
Applications should be in writing and should indicate that the records are being sought under the FOI Act. If the information is desired in a particular form, that is photocopy, this should be mentioned in the application. Please give as much detail as possible to enable staff of the department to identify the records sought. If you have difficulty in identifying the precise records that you require, the staff of the department will be happy to assist you in preparing your request.
- Personal Requests - information relating to an identifiable individual, only known to the individual or family
- Non-Personal Requests - broadly concerning work of a public body, for example statistics, reports, policy, briefs
- Mixed Requests - element of both personal and non-personal category of request combined
Personal Request for information on your claim(s)
Staff have been appointed in each business area of the department to decide FOI requests.
Applications for specific claim records should be directed to 'the FOI Officer' in the relevant scheme area who dealt with your claim, that is the Local Office or Headquarter office your claim was processed in. See below for addresses.
If you are unsure where to submit your request, it can be submitted to the FOI Unit (address below) who will redirect it. You may also contact the FOI Unit by telephone/e-mail for further details.
The department does not recommend sending personal or confidential information by email.
Please note that the department cannot guarantee that any personal and sensitive data, is fully secure. Customers who choose to use this channel are deemed to have accepted any risk involved. If you have any concerns for the safety of your personal and confidential information as regards email then please consider sending the information by mail or registered mail.
When you make a request for personal information you may be required to provide some form of identification such as a public service card to ensure information is only provided to those entitled to it.
Application Form: Access to Records (FOI1)
If you wish to access records regarding a specific claim or payment, you should specify this in your request. If it isn’t possible to identify the records requested after a reasonable search has been made, your request may be refused and you will be notified of this.
Download
Non-Personal/Mixed Records
Requests for access to non-personal/mixed records should be forwarded to:
Freedom of Information Unit
Address:
Social Welfare Services Office, Shannon Lodge
, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim
Email:
Phone number:
Note: If you require general information regarding any of the Benefit or Allowance Schemes operated by the department you should contact the Scheme Area
IMPORTANT:
Multifaceted or voluminous FOI requests attract fees.
To reduce potential fees for search and retrieval and photocopying of records, please ensure the request is specific and if possible targeted at one business area of the department.
Upfront fees
An upfront fee no longer applies to Non-Personal or Mixed Requests since 14 October 2014.
Search and Retrieval/Photocopying fees (from 14 October 2014):
Fees may be charged in respect of the time spent in locating and copying records, based on a standard hourly rate of €20.00 for search and retrieval and €0.04 for copying per page. The first 5 hours (€100) of search and retrieval is free. Once the charge exceeds €100, fees apply.
There is a cap on the amount of search and retrieval and copying fees that can be charged of €500 (25 hours approx), that is an FOI request that costs €650 is charged at €500. There is a further upper limit on estimated search and retrieval and copying fees at €700 (35 hours) above which an FOI body can refuse to process the request, unless you are prepared to refine the request to bring the search and retrieval and copying fees below the limit.
A deposit is payable where the total fee for search and retrieval is likely to exceed €100. In these circumstances, the department will notify you.
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 the department invokes these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to the deferral of access, charges, forms of access, and so on may also be the subject of appeal.
If you are dissatisfied with the initial decision, you may seek an internal review which will be carried out by an official at a higher level in the department. You may also seek an internal review if you have not received a reply within 4 weeks of your initial application.
A request for internal review must be submitted within 4 weeks of the initial decision (or the date the decision was due in the case of non-reply). The department must complete the review within 3 weeks.
There is no upfront fee for a request for a review in relation to personal records. However, a fee of €30 must accompany most applications for internal review of a decision in relation to non-personal records. A reduced fee of €10 applies if you are covered by a medical card. There is no fee payable for cases where a review is sought due to the non-reply of the initial request.
Following completion of internal review, you may seek independent review of the decision by the Information Commissioner. Also, if you have not received a reply to your application for internal review within 3 weeks, this is deemed a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Commissioner. The Commissioner's decision is final and can only be appealed to the High Court on a point of law.
Appeals to the Information Commissioner should be made in writing to the following address:
Office of the Information Commissioner
Address:
6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773.
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
There is no upfront fee for a request for an appeal in relation to personal records. However, a fee of €50 must accompany most applications for review by the Information Commissioner in relation to non-personal records. A reduced fee of €15 applies if you are covered by a medical card. There is no fee payable for cases where an appeal is being sought due to the non-reply of the internal review request.
The Department of Social Protection has always made information routinely available to the public in relation to its functions, activities and schemes.
The department is committed to ensuring that staff making decisions, do so with full knowledge of the relevant legislation and regulations and that the basis for those decisions is clearly explained to customers. Such information is available informally without the need to use the FOI Act.
The FOI Act is designed to allow public access to information held by public bodies which is NOT routinely available through other sources.
The department undertakes to treat as confidential any information provided to it by individuals or others on a confidential basis, subject to the department's obligations under law, including the Freedom of Information Act. Any persons supplying information to the department that they wish to have treated as confidential should state this when providing the information and state the reasons for its sensitivity. The department will consult with any individual or body so supplying sensitive information before making a decision on any Freedom of Information request received.
| Bereavement Grants, Carer’s Allowance/Carer’s Benefit, Disability Allowance, Disablement Benefit, Working Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement, Invalidity Pension | FOI Officer, Management Support Unit, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford |
| Child Benefit, Treatment Benefit | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny, Co Donegal |
| Records (PRSI Contributions), Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Paternity Benefit | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Inner Relief Road, Ardarvan, Buncrana, Co Donegal |
| Domiciliary Care Allowance Household Benefits, Information Unit, Guardians Payment (Contributory and Non-Contributory), State Pension (Contributory, Non-Contributory and Transition); Blind Pension, Widow’s (Contributory and Non-Contributory), One-Parent Family Payment (if payment made at this office) | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, College Road, Sligo |
| Community Employment | FOI Officer, Community Employment, Department of Social Protection, Goldsmith House, 7-13 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 |
| Illness Benefit, Injury Benefit (OIB) | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Store Street, Dublin 1 |
| Medical Review and Assessment - Medical Records Only | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Nurse Elizabeth O'Farrell House, 19-28 North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1 |
| PRSI Refunds – PRSI paid in error to Employers and Employees, Scope – decisions on insurability of employment, Redundancy and Insolvency | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Gandon House, Amiens Street, Dublin 1 |
| Carers Support Grant (formerly Respite Care Grant) | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Gandon House, Amien Street, Dublin 1 |
| The Asylum Seekers/New Communities and Homeless Persons Unit, Dublin | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, 20 King’s Inns Street, Dublin 1 |
| PPS Numbers (Client Identity Services), Gateway, Rural Social Scheme (RSS), TÚS | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Shannon Lodge, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim |
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests in relation to Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment (if payment made from a local office), Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA), Rent Supplement, and in relation to overpayments assessed against any of these payments should be made to the Office appropriate to your claim from the following list of Offices
Dublin Mid Leinster
| Intreo Centre | FOI Officer | |
| Parnell/King’s Inns Street (previously North Cumberland Street) | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Thomas Street – now Intreo Office, Cork Street | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Apollo House – now Intreo Office, Cork Street | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Nutgrove | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Ballyfermot | Maynooth | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 |
| Bishop’s Square | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Navan Road | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Balbriggan, Ballymun, Kilbarrack, Finglas, Coolock, Swords, Blanchardstown | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Mellowes Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 | |
| Dun Laoghaire | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Tallaght | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Clondalkin | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Newbridge | Athy, Baltinglass | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 |
| Arklow | Wicklow | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 |
| Bray | FOI Officer,Department of Social Protection,DMT Section,Finglas Intreo Centre,Mellowes Road,Dublin 11 | |
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Ennis | Ennistymon, Kilrush, Tulla | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick |
| Limerick | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick | |
| Newcastlewest | Kilmallock | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick |
| Thurles | Nenagh, Roscrea | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick |
| Listowel | Newmarket | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick |
| Tralee | Dingle, Killorglin | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick |
| Kenmare | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick | |
| Killarney | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Henry Street, Limerick |
Midlands
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Tullamore Control Office | Portarlington, Birr, Portlaoise, Rathdowney | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford |
| Edenderry | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford | |
| Longford | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford | |
| Athlone | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford | |
| Mullingar | Castlepollard | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford |
North East
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Drogheda | Ardee | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Government Buildings, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co Louth |
| Dundalk | Carrickmacross, Castleblayney, Monaghan, Clones | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Government Buildings, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co Louth |
| Cavan | Ballyconnell, Belturbet | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Government Buildings, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co Louth |
| Navan | Kells, Trim | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Government Buildings, St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co Louth |
North West
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Buncrana | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo | |
| Carrick-on-Shannon | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo | |
| Dunfanaghy | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo | |
| Dungloe | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo | |
| Letterkenny | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo | |
| Manorhamilton | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo | |
| Donegal Control Office | Ballybofey, Donegal Branch Office, Killybegs, Ballyshannon | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo |
| Sligo | Tubbercurry | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cranmore, Sligo |
West
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Achill | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway | |
| Ballina | Ballinrobe, Claremorris, Swinford | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway |
| Belmullet | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway | |
| Castlebar | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway | |
| Clifden | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway | |
| Galway | Gort, Ballinasloe | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway |
| Loughrea | Tuam | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway |
| Westport | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway | |
| Roscommon Control Office | Castlerea, Boyle, Roscommon Branch Office | FOI Officer, Intreo Centre, Department of Social Protection, Sean Duggan Centre, Fairgreen Road, Galway |
Cork
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Cork | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Floor 4, Abbeycourt House, George’s Quay, Cork | |
| Cobh | Midleton, Youghal | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Floor 4, Abbeycourt House, George’s Quay, Cork |
| Carraigaline | Bandon, Clonakility, Kinsale | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Floor 4, Abbeycourt House, George’s Quay, Cork |
| Bantry Control Office | Bantry Branch Office, Skibbereen | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Floor 4, Abbeycourt House, George’s Quay, Cork |
| Cahirciveen | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Floor 4, Abbeycourt House, George’s Quay, Cork | |
| Mallow Control Office | Fermoy, Macroom, Mallow Branch Office | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Floor 4, Abbeycourt House, George’s Quay, Cork |
South East
| Intreo Centre | Branch Office | |
| Waterford | Carrick-on-Suir, Thomastown, Dungarvan | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford |
| Wexford | Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford |
| Carlow | Muine Bheag, Tullow | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford |
| Kilkenny | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford | |
| Clonmel | Cahir, Cashel, Tipperary | FOI Officer, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford |
