Any person may make an FOI Request under the FOI Act 2014 and the University must normally respond within 4 weeks after acknowledging the request. In the case of large and/or complex requests this timeframe may be extended by a further 4 weeks.
Following retrieval and examination of the requested records, the Decision Maker may grant full access to the information requested, or may refuse access to some or all of the information requested based on specific grounds detailed within the FOI Act.
Under the Act, the person who has requested the information has the right to appeal the University’s decision - firstly to a more senior staff member within the University than 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.
Further information in relation to Freedom of Information can be viewed at:
- Freedom of Information Central Policy Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform: http://foi.gov.ie/
- The Office of the Information Commissioner:http://www.oic.ie/