Fees
4.1. Processing fees
The Freedom of Information Act (Fees) Regulations 2003 provides for the charging of fees for processing requests under the FOI Acts, internal reviews of such requests, and subsequent appeals to the Information Commissioner.
A fee of €15 is required before processing a request under the FOI Acts can begin. A reduced fee of €10 applies where the requester is covered by a medical card in which case details of the medical card registration number and issuing health board together with consent to the verification of these details with the relevant health board, should be supplied.
A fee of €75 is required before processing a request for Internal Review under the FOI Acts can begin. A reduced fee of €25 applies where the requester is covered by a medical card in which case details of the medical card registration number and issuing health board together with consent to the verification of these details with the relevant health board, should be supplied. No fees are payable where the request for internal review relates to a decision to charge a fee or deposit in the first instance.
Fees for processing requests under the FOI Acts or requests for internal review can be paid by cheque, bank draft or payable order to the Health and Safety Authority.
A fee of €150 is required before processing an appeal to the Information Commissioner under the FOI Acts. A reduced fee of €50 applies where the requester is covered by a medical card in which case details of the medical card registration number and issuing health board together with consent to the verification of these details with the relevant health board, should be supplied.
You should note that no fee is payable where the records that are the subject of the request relate only to personal information relating to the requester. Neither is a fee payable where the request relates to applications under Sections 17 or 18 of the Acts i.e. requests for amendment of records relating to personal information or relating to the right of a person to information regarding acts of a public body affecting the person.
4.2. Search and retrieval fees
Search and retrieval fees may be charged as follows:
- In respect of personal records, no fees will be charged in respect of the cost of copying the records requested unless a large number of records are involved.
- In respect of other (non-personal) information, fees may be charged in respect of the time spent in efficiently locating and copying records, based on a standard hourly rate. No charges will apply in respect of the time spent by the Authority in considering requests.
Fees are currently set as follows in accordance with Statutory Instruments No’s 139 of 1998 and 13 of 1997:
- €20.95 per hour of search and retrieval
- €0.04 per sheet for a photocopy
- €0.51 for a three and a half inch computer diskette containing copy documents
- €10.16 for a CD – ROM containing copy documents
- €6.35 for a Radiograph (X-ray) containing copy documents
A deposit may be payable where the total fee is likely to exceed €50.79. In these circumstances, the Authority will, if requested, assist the member of the public to amend the request so as to reduce or eliminate the amount of the deposit.
Charges may be waived in the following circumstances:
- where the cost of collecting and accounting for the fee would exceed the amount of the fee;
- where the information in the record would be of particular assistance to the understanding of an issue of national importance; or
- in the case of personal information, where such charges would not be reasonable having regard to the means of the requester.