Access to Information on the Environment

Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations, 2007
(Statutory Instrument No. 133/2007)

The European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 133 of 2007), give legal rights to those seeking access to information on the environment from public authorities. Under the Regulations, information relating to the environment held by, or for, a public authority must, subject to certain exceptions, be made available on request to any person.

Charges/fees for information provided under the AIE Regulations

There is no initial fee required when lodging a request for environmental information under the AIE Regulations. The Regulations do, however, provide that a public body may charge a reasonable fee for search and retrieval and the copying of records when it makes available environmental information in accordance with the Regulations.

For requests received under the Regulations, the Authority applies the same fee structure as that which is provided for under the Freedom of Information Acts. Details of the fees concerned are as follows:

• Search & Retrieval.
  • €20.95 per person per hour.

Note.
Where the estimated cost of search and retrieval of the records sought is likely to exceed €50.79, a deposit of at least 20% of the total amount will be required. In such cases, the requester will be advised in writing of the position and will be provided with an opportunity to review or amend his/her request. The search & retrieval process will not commence until payment of deposit has been received by the Authority. It should also be noted that the date for the final decision on the AIE request (which is normally within one month of receipt by the Authority of the request) will be determined by reference to the date of receipt of the deposit payment.

• Copying.
  • €0.04 per sheet for a photocopy.
  • €10.16 for a CD-ROM containing copy documents.

Fees in respect of search and retrieval and copying of records will be waived where the cost of collecting and accounting for the fee would exceed the amount of the fee itself.

How to make an AIE request

Applications under the Regulations for information on the environment should be made in writing to the Information Officer, National Roads Authority, St. Martin’s House, Waterloo Road, Dublin 4 or by email to info@nra.ie.

The request should:

• state that the application is being made under the AIE Regulations;
• provide daytime contact details, and
• clearly indicate the specific environmental information required, and specify the form and manner of access desired.

Normally, decisions on requests made under the Regulations are notified within one month of their receipt by the Authority.

Appeal Procedure

If your request for environmental information is refused wholly or partially, or you consider that your request was not properly dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the AIE Regulations, you may, not later than one month following receipt of the decision, request the Authority to carry out an internal review of the decision. No fee will be charged for the internal review process.

A written outcome of the review, informing you of the decision, the reason for the decision and advising you of your right of appeal to the Commissioner for Environmental Information, including the time limits and fees associated with such an appeal, will normally be issued to you within one month of the date of receipt of the review request.

If you are not satisfied with the decision following the internal review process, you may appeal the matter, in writing, to the Commissioner for Environmental Information at the following address:

Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.
Telephone: 01- 6395689.

The AIE Regulations provide that a fee of €150 must be charged for an appeal to the Commissioner for Environmental Information. However, provision is also made for a reduced appeal fee of €50 for medical card holders and their dependants.