text: Freedom of Information and AIE - Léargas - Insight through exchange Léargas – Insight through exchange
  Home > Freedom of Information and AIE
  Welcome to the Freedom of Information Unit of Léargas, the Exchange Bureau. With effect from 31 May 2006, Léargas is an agency covered under the Freedom of Information Act.
  Léargas reporting under the Access to Information on the Environment legislation.
  For information on Léargas published under Section 8 of the FOI Act 2014, click here.
  Applications under the FOI Act
  These rights mean that from a certain date (31 May 2006 in respect of Léargas), people can seek access to personal information held on them no matter when the information was created, and to other records created after 31 May 2006.
  all records relating to personal information held by Léargas irrespective of when they were created
  all other records created from the commencement of the FOI Act for Léargas (31 May 2006)
  any records necessary to the understanding of a current record even if created prior to 31 May 2006
  personnel records of serving staff created from 31 May 2006 and those created prior to that date where being used or proposed to be used in a way which adversely affects or may affect the person involved.
  Requests may also be refused if they are deemed too voluminous or unclear but Léargas is obliged to assist the requester in trying to overcome this.
  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 Léargas in providing you with 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, Léargas can refuse to process the request.
  Details of actual charges relating to your request will be notified to you in writing. Payment should be made by way of Electronic Funds Transfer. Please contact the FOI Unit for bank details. A list of relevant fees is set out below:
  If you wish to send a request you can do so either in writing or by email, to
  Fionnuala Broughan,
  Léargas,
  Tel. (01) 873 1220
  email: foi_at_leargas.ie (please replace _at_ with the @ symbol)
  Alternatively, you may download the application form, fill it in, and send it to us at the address above.
  We are normally obliged to provide a decision on a request within four weeks of receiving it.
  The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government requests annual statistical information in relation to AIE (Access to Information on the Environment) requests received by the Department of Education and Skills and bodies under its aegis (of which Léargas is one). Léargas provides statistics on any requests it receives to the DES.
  Click here for summaries of AIE requests, as gathered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.