Freedom of Information
On this page, you can find advice and guidance on submitting a freedom of information request, or a request for access to information on the environment, to Quality and Qualifications Ireland
Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2014 allows members of the public access, on request, to records held by QQI which is not routinely made available by QQI or available through other sources. It gives you the right to have your personal information corrected or updated, where such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading, and to get reasons for decisions taken by Quality and Qualifications Ireland that affect you.
However, recognising the requirement for QQI to be able to conduct its business in line with due process and procedure, there are exemptions provided for in the Act which may be applied to certain types of information in some circumstances. These are set out in the FOI Act and key exemptions include:
- Confidential and commercially sensitive information
- Deliberations of FOI bodies
- Functions and negotiations of FOI bodies
- Personal information
If any of these exemptions are used to withhold information, the reasons will be clearly explained to you.
Requests may also be refused if they are deemed too voluminous, but QQI will work with the requester to simplify and;/or modify the request.
You can ask for the following records held by QQI:
- Any records relating to you personally, whenever they were created
- All other records (non-personal) created after 21 April 1998
Useful information and guidance on FOI is available on the government’s website, www.foi.gov.ie
You should make your request in writing to:
The FOI Officer
Quality and Qualifications Ireland
26-27 Denzille Lane
Dublin 2
- Your application should refer to the Freedom of Information Act. If your application for information does not mention the Act, it will be dealt with as an ordinary request for information
- Please ensure that you describe the information you are looking for in the greatest detail possible to enable us to identify the relevant records. If possible, please indicate the time-frame that applies to your request, for example, between May 2011 and December 2011
- No fees apply to initial requests for non-personal information
- You can expect an acknowledgement within two weeks of QQI receiving your request for information
- You will receive a decision on your request within four weeks of QQI receiving your request for information
Is there a charge for making a FOI request?
There is no charge for submitting a request. Fees are considered where a request covers a large volume of information / records. Charges may be applied for search and retrieval and for any reproduction costs in providing you with the material requested. Where the cost of such search, retrieval and duplication
- is less than €101, no fee is charged.
- is greater than €500 but less than €700, a maximum charge of €500 applies.
- is greater than €700, QQI can refuse to process the request.
Details of the actual charges relating to your request will be notified to you in writing. Payment should be made by way of electronic funds transfer.
List of Fees
- Search and retrieval: €20.00 per hour
- Copying charges: Photocopy per sheet: €0.04
Internal Review
- Internal Review fee costs €30 (€10 for medical card holders)
Appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner
- Appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner costs €50 (€15 for medical card holders)
What are my entitlements under the FOI Acts?
- Receipt of your request must be acknowledged within 10 working days
- A response will, in normal circumstances, be issued within 20 working days of receipt of the request
- All decisions must be clearly explained, setting out the sections of the Act used in reaching these decisions
- Details of your entitlements to Internal Review and appeal will be included in the decision letter
What if I am not satisfied with the FOI decision?
You may request an internal review of any decision issued to you by QQI by emailing foireviewer@qqi.ie or writing to the FOI Internal Review Officer, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, 26-27 Denzille Lane, Dublin 2 seeking an internal review on the matter. A fee of €30 (€10 for medical holders) may apply for such an appeal. There is no fee for an internal review concerning personal information relating to oneself or in relation to a decision to impose fees.
You should make your request for an internal review within 4 weeks from the date of response to your initial FOI request. This review will be conducted by a senior member of staff who was not involved in the first decision making process and a decision will be communicated to you within 3 weeks. The name of the Internal Reviewer will be given to you in our Acknowledgement Letter in response to your original request.
Can I appeal an internal review of the FOI decision?
You may appeal the decision within 6 months by writing to the Office of the Information Commissioner. If you make an appeal the Information Commissioner will fully investigate and consider the matter and issue a fresh decision. All appeals should be addressed to:
The Information Commissioner
18 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin D02 HE97
e-mail: info@oic.ie
A fee of €50 (€15 for medical card holders) may apply for such an application.
Access to Information on the Environment (AIE)
European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 to 2011 give legal rights to those seeking to access information on the environment from public authorities.
How does AIE work?
The AIE Regulations require public bodies to respond to an AIE request within 4 weeks of receiving it.
Under these regulations, information relating to the environment held by, or for, a public authority must be made available on request, subject to certain exceptions.
The AIE regulations also oblige public authorities to be proactive in disseminating environmental information to the public.
You should send a request either, in writing or by email, to:
The FOI Officer
Quality and Qualifications Ireland
26-27 Denzille Lane
Dublin 2
When making a request for information under the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations you are required to:
- state that the application is being made under the AIE Regulations.
- your contact details.
- state, in terms that are as specific as possible, the environmental information required; and specify the form and manner of access desired.
Is there a charge?
There is no initial fee for making an application under the AIE Regulations. However, Quality and Qualifications Ireland may charge a reasonable fee for supplying the information requested. This may include the costs of compiling, copying, printing or posting of information. If an applicant requires hard copies, there may be a fee of €0.04 per sheet depending on the volume of information contained in the request.
Can I get access to any information that I seek?
There are several grounds on which a public authority can refuse information; these include when a body is acting in a legislative or judicial capacity (Article 3(2) of the AIE Regulations) and both mandatory (Article 8) and discretionary (Article 9) grounds for refusing information. When making a decision on whether to release information, a public body is required to consider the provisions in Article 10.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision on my AIE request?
Under Article 11 of the AIE Regulations you have a right to seek an internal review of the initial decision. You may also request an internal review if you have not received a response within the appropriate timeframe.
An internal review must be requested within one month of receipt of the original decision (the Department may extend this timeframe but is not required to do so). There is no charge for applying for an internal review. An internal review involves a complete reconsideration of the matter by a member of the staff of the public authority, who may affirm, vary or annul the original decision made.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision on internal review?
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you can appeal to the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI). You must appeal within one month of receiving the decision on the internal review. However, the Commissioner may extend this time limit in individual cases.
It costs €150 to take an appeal to the Commissioner for Environmental Information, or €50 euro if you are the holder, or dependent of a holder of a medical card, or a third party appealing the decision to release certain information.
Where can I get more information on AIE?
Further general information on the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations including background information on the legislation, useful publications and links to other relevant bodies is available from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications gov - Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) (www.gov.ie).
