Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 gives you the right to access official information held by Galway County Council, as far as possible, in line with the public interest and the right to privacy.

Under FOI, you have the right to:

• Access records held by Galway County Council, including personal and non-personal information
• Correct or update your personal information held by Galway County Council if it is incomplete, incorrect, or misleading
• Understand why decisions were made by Galway County Council that directly affect you

How to make an FOI  request

If you would like to request information under Freedom of Information, please follow the steps below:

What to include in your request:

• Clearly state that your request is being made under the Freedom of Information Act
• Describe the information you are looking for as clearly as possible
• Let us know how you would like to receive the response — by post or email
• Include your contact details
• Submit your request in writing, by post, email or via the online form 

You may wish to use the downloadable Freedom of Information Application Form 

Where to send your request:

By post:
Freedom of Information Officer 
Galway County Council
Áras an Chontae
Prospect Hill
Galway

By email:
foi@galwaycoco.ie

Online: 
Apply online

What happens next?

Your request will proceed through the following steps:

• We will acknowledge receipt of your request within two weeks
• We will make a decision within four weeks.
• We may ask for more time to complete your request if the request is particularly complex or there are large numbers of records involved. We cannot extend it for more than a further 4 weeks. You will be notified in writing we wish to extend the time.
• If we do not respond within four weeks, the Act deems your request to have been refused.

Is there a fee?

Requests for personal information under FOI are free. 

For non-personal records, the following fees apply:

Charges for search, retrieval and copying

You may be charged a fee for the "search and retrieval" of records, the cost of photocopying documents for requests for non-personal information.

• Search and retrieval of records is charged at €20 per hour
• Photocopying is charged at 4c per sheet 

If the cost of search, retrieval and copying is €101 or less, no charge is applied. 

If the charge exceeds €101, full fees apply. The maximum charge applied for a request is €500.

If the estimated cost of search, retrieval and copying is more than €700 the body can refuse to process your request. You will be given the opportunity to refine your request to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below this limit

Will we release all the information you request?

Some types of records are exempt from FOI so it may not be possible to release all of the records you request.  Records may be released in redacted form or refused outright. The following are examples of records that may be exempt:

• Information given in confidence.  
• Commercially sensitive information
• Personal information (of someone other than the requester)

Your request may also be refused if it is deemed to be too extensive or unclear. You will be given assistance in this instance to refine your request. 

If your request is refused, either in part or entirely, you will be given reasons for the refusal.

FOI Appeal Process

Can you appeal an FOI decision?

Yes. You may seek an internal review of the Council’s initial decision in relation to your request, if

• You are dissatisfied with the initial decision received, or
• You have not received a reply within four weeks of the initial application 

A request for an internal review must be submitted in writing within four weeks of the initial decision.

Applications for internal review relating to non-personal records cost €30. A reduced fee of €10 applies for medical card holders.

Internal reviews are carried out by a more senior officer and will normally be completed within three weeks. 

Can you appeal the internal review decision?

Yes, you may seek an independent review of our decision through the Office of the Information Commissioner if:

• following the internal review process you are dissatisfied with the decision; or,
• you have not received a reply to the request for internal review within 3 weeks of the application. 

Requests for appeal must be made in writing to the Office of the Information Commissioner within six months of receiving notification of our decision.

An application  to the Information Commissioner for review of non-personal request will cost €50. A reduced fee of €15 applies for medical card holders 

The decisions of the Information Commissioner are binding. However, you can appeal a decision to the High Court on a point of law.

Appeals in writing may be made directly to the Information Commissioner:

Office of the Information Commissioner
18 Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 6785222
Email: info@oic.gov.ie