Making an FOI request

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 gives you the right to access records held by FOI bodies. FOI bodies must give you an explanation if you are not given what you asked for and the decision must normally be made within 4 weeks.

You can ask for any of the following:

  • Any records relating to you personally, whenever created
  • All other records created after the effective date (April 2008)

A record includes a book or other written or printed material which is in any form including in any electronic device. It is a map, plan or drawing, a disc, tape or film which contains visual or non-visual images or a copy of any of these.

When the request is for personal information there are no charges unless there are a significant number of records. In the case of requests which relate to non-personal information there are charges applied for search retrieval and copying. The relevant section of the Act here is Section 27(2) and these fees relate to:

  1. Determining whether it holds the information requested;
  2. Locating the information or documents containing the information
  3. Retrieving such information or documents
  4. Extracting the information from the files, documents, electronic or other information sources containing both it and other material not relevant to the request, and
  5. repairing a schedule specifying the records for consideration for release

There is no charge for submitting a request. In respect of non-personal requests, other charges may be applied for the time spent finding records and for any reproduction costs incurred by the ETB in providing the material requested (search, retrieval and copying charges). Where the cost of search, retrieval and copying is less than €101, no fee is charged. Where the cost of search, retrieval and copying is greater than €500 but less than €700, a maximum charge of €500 applies. Where the cost of search, retrieval and copying is greater than €700, the ETB can refuse to process the request. Details of actual charges relating to requests will be notified in writing.

Search and Retrieval – €20 per hour (for requests that exceed the €100 minimum in terms of search, retrieval and copying), subject to the ceilings mentioned above.

€0.04 per sheet for a photocopy

Internal review fee €30 (€10 for medical card holders)

Appeal to the Information Commissioner €50 (€15 for medical card holders)

Yes. If you are not satisfied with the decision made you can seek an internal review of the decision which is a complete and new review of your request by someone more senior. If following this you are still not satisfied you can appeal this decision to the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Requests must be made in writing to the FOI Officer, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, Marshal House, Dooradoyle Road, Limerick, V94 HAC4. Requests can also be made by email. When you make a request you must:
Submit the request in writing to the FOI Officer, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and

  • specify that the request is being made under the FOI Act
  • be clear enough so that the FOI Officer understands what records are being requested. In cases where it is not clear what records are being requested, the ETB will assist the requester to put his/her request in such a way that the records being sought can be identified
  • When you are seeking information which is personal, you will be required to supply the appropriate identification as required
  • In cases where you are seeking to access records under section 37(8) you will be required to provide additional details in order to exercise these rights For further information email foi@lcetb.ie
  • Download the FOI Request application form here

FOI Publications

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires Freedom of Information (FOI) bodies to prepare and publish as much information as possible in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis outside of FOI, having regard to the principles of openness, transparency and accountability as set out in Sections 8(5) and 11(3) of the Act. This allows for the publication or giving of records outside of FOI provided that such publication or giving of access is not prohibited by law. The scheme commits FOI bodies to make information available as part of their normal business activities in accordance with this scheme.

Please find Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board FOI Publication Scheme below. Each link in the table leads to a page comprising relevant information in the category as well as links to relevant information on this website. If the information you require cannot be found here, you can contact our Corporate Services Department by email info@lcetb.ie or call 061 442100. If the information you are looking for is not currently made publicly available by the ETB, you may consider making a Freedom of Information Request (as outlined above).

To view these pages in Irish, please click on the orange floating BrowseAloud icon on this page to open the menu. You then select the translate option in the menu (world icon) and choose Gaeilge from the dropdown options.

FOI Publication Scheme

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires Freedom of Information (FOI) bodies such as Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board to publish a disclosure log, which contains details of the types of requests received under FOI since January 2015 and the decisions made by the body in response to these requests. Click here to download a copy of the FOI Disclosure Log.

Disclosures are listed in order of the date the request was received by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. Please note that, for privacy reasons, identifying information such as the name of the requester is not included in the disclosure log.

Other Information

ETBI Board of Management Handbook

T&S Board Members

Data Protection

Accessibility

Code of Governance

This section links to some of the legislation relevant to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

FOI FAQs

The Freedom of Information Act is designed to give the public the right of access to records held by public bodies, to the greatest extent possible that is consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy. The Act lays out a formal requesting process, as well as emphasising that public bodies should be open and accountable as a matter of principle.

A large amount of information about the ETB and its functions is publicly available without the need to make a Freedom of Information request. Those seeking information should, in the first instance, consult the ETB’s FOI Publication Scheme on the page above. You may also make direct contact with staff in the Corporate Services Department by emailing info@lcetb.ie or calling 061-442100.

Please click here for full details of how to make a Freedom of Information Request to the ETB.

Please see legislation for full details of fees and charges that apply.

Yes. Under the Act, the person who has requested the information has the right to appeal an FOI body’s decision- firstly to a more senior staff member within the FOI body then the staff member who made the original decision (referred to as an Internal Reviewer), and then to the Office of the Information Commissioner if the decision is still not satisfactory. The Information Commissioner’s decision in this instance is binding.

FOI Glossary of Terms

Decision-Maker – a staff member within a public body who makes decisions on FOI requests, i.e. who decides whether it is appropriate to release the requested records or not.

Disclosure Log– a publicly-available record of the decisions made by a public body in response to FOI requests.

Freedom of Information Act – an Act designed to give the public the right of access to records held by public bodies.

FOI (Freedom of Information Request) – a written request made under the Freedom of Information Act, usually a request for access to certain records held by a public body.

Information Commissioner – the Commissioner, independent of the government, who reviews the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act and can issue decisions on appeals regarding FOI requests.

Publication Scheme – a catalogue of the information that a public body routinely makes publicly available.

Public Body – an organisation that is funded by the state, in full or in large part. FOI requests can be made to most public bodies.

Record – information recorded on any media, including letters, memos, emails, post-its, voice recordings.

Requester – the official term for a person who makes an FOI request.

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