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Make an FOI request to the Department of Justice
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The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to access records held by government departments and certain public bodies.
You can ask for the following records held by government departments or certain public bodies:
- any records relating to you personally, whenever created
- all other records created after 21 April 1998
To access a record you must fill in the form below and return it to:
Freedom of Information Co-Ordination Unit
Address:
Department of Justice, 51 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
Email:
Phone number:
If you are seeking personal records, you should include photographic identification. Should you need assistance in making your request, you can contact foi@justice.ie or alternatively ring 01 602 8654.
You will receive an acknowledgement of your application within 10 working days. A decision on your application will normally be made within 20 working days.
If your request is refused, you may ask for an internal review of that decision. You will be told the result of this review within 15 working days.
If you are unhappy with this outcome, you can contact the Information Commissioner at:
Office of the Information Commissioner
Address:
6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773
Website:
Email:
Phone number:
There is no charge for personal or non-personal requests.
However, fees may be applied in respect of the time spent searching and retrieving records that are released to you and in respect of copying of such records. Section 27 of the Act sets out the elements of search and retrieval which may be charged for.
In most cases there are no search, retrieval and copying charges where the request relates to your own personal records. However the Act does allow that in situations where the request relates to a significant number of records that a charge may be levied having regard to the circumstances of the requester.
- €30 internal review fee - non personal requests
- €10 internal review fee (medical card holders)
- €50 appeal to the Information Commissioner
- €15 appeal to the Information Commissioner (medical card holders)
- €20 per hour for search and retrieval
- €0.04 per sheet for a photocopy
The following requests or applications are exempt from a fee:
- a request under Section 12 for a record or records containing only personal information related to the requester
- an application under Section 9 (right of amendment of records relating to personal information)
- an application under Section 10 (right of person to information regarding acts of public bodies affecting the person)
