Freedom of Information
The section is responsible for assisting the general public and staff exercise their rights under the FOI Act which was extended to the HEA in October 2001.
For further details on FOI, please contact the HEA Offices at: Brooklawn House, Dublin 4
The new Freedom of Information Act 2014 was signed into law on 14 October 2014. This replaces the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.
How to make a request
Requests for information can be made in writing, email or by fax to the office address below or by email to foi@hea.ie
Freedom of Information Officer, Higher Education Authority, Brooklawn House, Dublin 4
If you require any assistance or have any questions, you can contact us by phone at 01 2317100 or by email foi@hea.ie
Please note that the FOI Act 2014 is intended to allow access to records held by the HEA, not for general queries. In your request please identify where possible the records you are seeking access to. The HEA will assist in ensuring the request is valid under FOI. In some cases where general information is sought we may propose to deal with your request outside of FOI.
Access to Information within the Authority
The Act requires FOI bodies to respond to requests from the public for information they hold. In most cases, public bodies must give their decision on a request within 4 weeks of receiving it. Also, FOI bodies are required to publish information in line with the model publication scheme, and are encouraged to publish as much information as possible outside of FOI.
Under the FOI Act, anyone is entitled to apply for access to information not otherwise publicly available. Each person has a right to:
- access to records held by the Authority;
- correction of personal information relating to oneself held by the Authority where it is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading;
- access to reasons for decisions made by the Authority directly affecting oneself.
If you require any assistance or have any questions please contact us at 01 2317100
Among the key exemptions are records relating to:
- Government meetings
- law enforcement and security
- confidential and commercially sensitive information
- personal information (other than information relating to the person making the request).
Fees
- The €15 application fee has been abolished;
- There is a minimum threshold of €101 below which no search, retrieval and copying fees can be charged. Once the charge reaches €101, full fees apply;
- There is a cap on the amount of search, retrieval and copying fees that can be charged of €500;
- There is a further upper limit on estimated search, retrieval and copying fees at €700 above which an FOI body can refuse to process a request, unless the requester is prepared to refine the request to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below the limit;
- The fee for internal review under Section 21 is now €30 (€10 for medical card holders and their dependants)
- The fee for appeals to the Information Commissioner under Section 22 is now €50 (€15 for medical card holders and their dependants)
Please be as detailed and as specific as possible when requesting information as this will enable the staff of the Authority to speedily reply to your request. If you require a reply in a particular format please mention this in your application. The staff of the FOI unit will be glad to assist you in preparing your request.
Right of Review and Appeal
The FOI Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may damage key interests of the State or of third parties. Where the Authority invokes these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to deferral of access, charges, forms of access, etc. may also be appealed. Details of the appeals mechanisms are set out in the following paragraphs.
Internal Review
Applicants may seek an internal review of the initial decision, which will be carried out by an official at a higher level, if:
(a) the applicant is dissatisfied with the initial response received, e.g. refusal of information, form of access, charges, etc., or
(b) the applicant has not received a reply within four weeks of the initial application – this is deemed to be a refusal of the request and allows the applicant to proceed to internal review.
Requests for an internal review should be submitted in writing to the FOI Unit.
Higher Education Authority
3 Shelbourne Buildings
Crampton Avenue
Shelbourne Road
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Lo Call: 1890 200 637
Fax: 01 2317172
Email: foi@hea.ie
A request for an internal review must be submitted within four weeks of the initial decision. The Authority must complete the review within three weeks. An internal review must normally be completed before an appeal may be made to the Information Commissioner.
HEA FOI Publication Scheme
Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires FOI bodies to prepare and publish a scheme concerning the publication of information by the body in conformity with a model publication scheme made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. 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 Minister is of the view that FOI bodies should 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. The scheme commits FOI bodies to make information available as part of their normal business activities in accordance with the scheme.
Disclosure Logs
This section provides details of non-personal requests which have been responded to by the HEA under the Freedom of Information Act.
Saoirse Faisnéise
Tá an chuid seo freagrach as cuidiú leis an bpobal ginearálta agus foireann leas a bhaint as a gcearta faoi Acht FOI a bhí sínte chuig an HEA i nDeireadh Fómhair 2001.
I gcomhair a thuilleadh sonraí ar FOI, téigh i dteagmháil le Oifigí HEA ag: Brooklawn House, Baile Átha Cliath 4
Bhí Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise, 2014 sínithe isteach sa dlí ar an 14 Dheireadh Fómhair 2014. Athchuireann sin Achtanna um Shaoráil Faisnéise 1997 agus 2003.
Conas iarratas a dhéanamh
Is féidir le iarratais ar fhaisnéis a bheith déanta i scríbhinn, r-phost nó facs chuig seoladh na hoifige thíos nó r-phost ag foi@hea.ie
Oifigeach Saoirse Faisnéise, An tÚdaras Ardoideachais, Brooklawn House, Baile Átha Cliath 4
Má theastaíonn aon chúnamh uait nó má bhíonn ceist agat, is féidir leat labhairt linn trí ghuthán ag 01 2317100 nó r-phost foi@hea.ie
Rochtain ar Fhaisnéis san Údarás
Iarrann an tAcht ó chomhlachtaí FOI freagairt ar iarratais ón phobal i gcomhair na faisnéise atá acu. Sa chuid is mó cásanna, ní mór do chomhlachtaí poiblí a gcinneadh a thabhairt ar iarratas laistigh 4 sheachtainí i ndiaidh é a fháil. Chomh maith leis, iarrtar ar chomhlachtaí FOI faisnéis a fhoilsiú i gcomhréir le scéim foilseacháin na samhlach, agus moltar dóibh an méid is mó faisnéise indéanta a fhoilsiú lasmuigh FOI.
Faoi Acht FOI, tá aon duine i dteideal cur isteach i gcomhair rochtana ar fhaisnéis nach bhfuil ar fáil go poiblí ar bhealach eile. Tá ceart ag gach duine:
- rochtain a fháil ar na taifid coinneáilte ag an Údarás;
- Ceartúchán a iarradh ar fhaisnéis phearsanta a bhaineann le duine coinneáilte ag an Údarás nuair a bhíonn sé míchruinn, neamhiomlán nó míthreorach;
- rochtain ar chúiseanna le cinntí déanta ag an Údarás le tionchar díreach ar an nduine.
Má theastaíonn aon chúnamh uait nó má bhíonn ceist agat, labhair linn ag 01 2317100
I measc príomh-dhíolúiní, tá taifid maidir le:
- cruinnithe an Rialtais
- forfheidhmiú dlí agus slándáil
- faisnéis rúnda agus íogair go tráchtála
- faisnéis phearsanta (difriúil ó fhaisnéis a bhaineann leis an nduine a rinne an t-iarratas).
Táillí
- Cuireadh deireadh le táille iarratais €15;
- Tá íosteorainn €101 agus ní féidir cuardach, aisghabháil agus táillí cóipeála a ghearradh faoina bhun. I ndiaidh don táille €101 a shroicheadh, baineann an táille iomlán leis;
- Tá uasteorainn ar an méid táillí cuardaigh, aisghabhála agus cóipeála ar féidir a ghearradh, ag €500;
- Tá uasteorainn eile ar chuardach measta, táillí aisghabhála agus cóipeála ag €700. Os cionn sin, ní féidir le aon chomhlacht FOI diúltú do phróiseáil ar iarratas, seachas má bhí an t-iarratasóir ullamh chun iarratas a athscagadh chun na táillí cuardaigh, aisghabhála agus cóipeála a laghdú faoi bhun an teorann;
- Tá an táille i gcomhair athbhreithnithe inmheánaigh faoi Chuid 21 anois ag €30 (€10 i gcomhair sealbhóirí chárta liachta agus a gcleithiúnaigh)
- Tá an táille i gcomhair achomhairc ar an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise faoi Chuid 22 anois ag €50 (€15 i gcomhair sealbhóirí chárta liachta agus a gcleithiúnaigh)
Le do thoil tabhair an méid is mó sonraí agus bí chomh sonrach agus is féidir le linn iarratas a iarradh toisc go gceadóidh sin d’fhoireann an Údaráis chun freagairt go gasta do d’iarratas. Má theastaíonn freagra uait i bhformáir áirithe, luaigh sin le do thoil i d’iarratas. Beidh áthas ar fhoireann an aonaid FOI cuidiú leat chun d’iarratas a ullmhú.
Ceart Athbhreithnithe agus Achomhairc
Leagann an tAcht FOI amach sraith díolmhaithe chun faisnéis íogair a chosaint nuair a d’fhéadfadh an nochtú sin damáiste a dhéanamh do phríomh-leasanna an Stáit nó le tríú páirtithe. Nuair a ghlaoann an tÚdarás na forálacha sin chun faisnéis a choinneáil siar, is féidir achomharc ar an gcinneadh. D’fhéadfadh achomharc a dhéanamh freisin ar chinntí maidir le iarchur rochtana, táillí, cineálacha rochtana, srl. Tá mionsonraí ar na meicníochtaí achomhairc leagtha amach sna paragraif a leanas.
Agallamh Sealadach
D’fhéadfadh iarratasóirí athbhreithniú inmheánach a lorg ar an gcinneadh tosaigh, a dhéanfar ag oifigeach ar ardleibhéal, i gcás:
(a) go bhfuil an t-iarratasóir míshásta leis an bhfreagra osaigh faighte, e.g. Diúltú faisnéise, foirm rochtana, táillí, srl., nó
(b) ní bhfuair an t-iarratasóir freagra laistigh ceithre sheachtainí ón iarratais tosaigh – glactar leis sin mar dhiúltú don iarratas agus ceadaíonn sin don iarratasóir dul ar aghaidh go dtí athbhreithniú inmheánach.
Ba chóir iarratais i gcomhair athbhreithnithe inmheánaigh a sheoladh i scríbhinn chuig Aonad FOI.
An tÚdaras Ardoideachais
3 Foirgnimh Ais Láir
Crampton Avenue
Bóthar Ais Láir
Droichead na Dothra
Baile Átha Cliath 4
Glao Áitiúil: 1890 200 637
Facs: 01 2317172
R-phost: foi@hea.ie
Ní mór iarratas ar athbhreithniú inmheánach a sheoladh laistigh ceithre sheachtainí ón gcéad chinneadh. Ní mór don Údarás an t-athbhreithniú a chríochnú laistigh trí sheachtainí. Ní mór athbhreithniú inmheánach a chríochnú mar is gnáth sula ndéantar achomharc chuig an gCoimisinéir Faisnéise.
Scéim Fhoilseacháin HEA FOI
Iarrann Cuid 8 Achta um Shaoráil Faisnéise, 2014 ó chomhlachtaí FOI scéim a ullmhú agus a fhoilsiú a bhaineann le foilseachán faisnéise ag an gcomhlacht i gcomhréir le scéim foilseacháin samhlach déanta ag an Aire Caiteachais Poiblí agus Athchóirithe. Ceadaíonn sé sin i gcomhair foilseacháin nó taifid a thabhairt lasmuigh FOI mura bhfuil cosc ar an bhfoilseachán sin nó ceadú rochtana de réir an dlí. Is tuairim an Aire gur chóir do chomhlachtaí FOI an méid is mó faisnéise indéanta a ullmhú agus a fhoilsiú ar bhealach oscailte inrochtana ar bhonn rialta lasmuigh FOI, maidir le prionsabail oscailteachta, follasachta agus cuntasachta de réir leagtha amach i gCodanna 8(5) agus 11(3) an Achta. Cimíonn an scéim seo comhlachtaí FOI chun an fhaisnéis a chur ar fáil mar chuid dá gcuid gníomhaíochtaí gnó normálta i gcomhréir leis an scéim.
Logaí Nochtaithe
Soláthraíonn an chuid seo mionsonraí ar iarratais neamh-phearsanta a d’fhreagair an HEA dóibh faoi Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise. Níl siad ar fáil ach i mBéarla.