Freedom of Information in Ireland: How to Make an FOI Request

Freedom of Information (FOI) gives you a legal right to access records held by public bodies in Ireland, under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. Whether you're a newcomer trying to understand how a decision affecting you was made, a journalist, or simply a curious citizen, FOI requests are a powerful and underused tool. Around 100,000 FOI requests are made in Ireland each year, and the vast majority are answered in full or in part.

Who can make an FOI request in Ireland?

Anyone can make an FOI request in Ireland, regardless of nationality, residency status or citizenship. You do not need to be an Irish citizen or even live in Ireland to request records from an Irish public body. This is broader than many other countries' FOI regimes and makes it a genuinely accessible right for newcomers from day one.

Which bodies are covered by FOI legislation?

FOI applies to government departments, the HSE, local authorities such as Dublin City Council and Cork County Council, An Garda Síochána (for administrative records), universities, and most state agencies. It generally does not cover private companies, though some semi-state bodies are partially covered. You can check the full list of FOI bodies on foi.gov.ie, the central portal for Irish FOI. Notably, some bodies like the Central Bank and certain commercial semi-states have limited or partial FOI coverage, so it's worth checking before you apply.

How do I write an FOI request?

A valid FOI request must be in writing (email is fine), state that it is being made under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, and describe the records you want in enough detail for the body to identify them. A simple template: "I am making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 for [describe records, e.g. all correspondence between X and Y regarding Z, dated between [date] and [date]]. Please provide records in electronic format where possible." You can request personal records about yourself, or non-personal records about a decision, policy or process. Being specific about dates, departments, and subject matter dramatically increases the chance of a fast, complete response.

What are the FOI timelines and fees?

Public bodies must respond within 4 weeks (20 working days) of receiving a valid request. There is no fee to make an FOI request itself. However, if the request is for non-personal records, a search-and-retrieval fee may apply if the work involved exceeds a certain threshold, though the first five hours of search and retrieval time are free of charge. Fees for copying records are minimal, generally a few cent per page. Requests for your own personal data are free of search and retrieval charges entirely.

How do internal review and appeals work?

If you're unhappy with a decision, refused access, or received no response, you can request an internal review within the public body itself, generally within 4 weeks of the original decision, and this is carried out by a more senior official. If you're still unhappy after internal review, you can appeal to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), an independent statutory body, generally within 6 months. There is a fee for OIC appeals, typically around €50, or €15 for medical card holders, though this is refunded if your appeal is successful. The OIC's decisions are binding, though they can be appealed further to the High Court on a point of law.

Frequently Asked Questions