Introduction
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 provides that every person has:
- a legal right for each person to access records held by public bodies
- a legal right for each person to have official information relating to him/herself amended where it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading
- a legal right to obtain reasons for decisions affecting oneself
The FOI Act has applied to Skillnet Ireland since May 2006 and the following records come within the scope of the Act:
- all records relating to personal information held by Skillnet Ireland, irrespective of when created.
- all other records created since commencement of the Act on 21st April 1998.
The FOI Act allows public access to information held by public bodies which is not routinely available through other sources. However, access to information is subject to a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may damage key interests of the State or its citizens. Access to information is also subject to specific procedures and time limits.
Key exemptions include:
- Confidentiality
- Commercially sensitive
- Personal information (other than information relating to the person making the request).
Should it be necessary to withhold a record, a full explanation of the decision will be given to the requester in writing.
Contact Us
You can contact us, or submit an FOI request, in any of the following ways:
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We check our emails and post every working day. We will acknowledge your request within 10 working days and issue a decision within 20 working days of receiving your request (unless an extension is required). If we need to add an extension, we will notify you within 10 working days of making your request.
Make an FOI Request
- Contact us by email, letter stating you are making a request under the FOI Act 2014.
- Describe the records you want as precisely as possible.
- Indicate if the request is for personal or nonpersonal information (identification is required for personal records).
- Let us know if you want us to send you the records in paper or electronic (digital) format.
- Provide your contact details (so we can respond to your request)
FOI Disclosure Log
Skillnet Ireland provides a disclosure log of information previously provided under FOI regulations. Click on the PDF below to access the log, which is updated every quarter.
Routinely available information
Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires FOI bodies to prepare and 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. Skillnet Ireland routinely makes available Annual Reports and Programme Evaluation Reports. On occasions, other publications are produced.
Click here to view and download all publications currently available.
Fees
Search and retrieval fees may apply in certain circumstances.
If a fee applies, you will be notified within 10 working days of making your request.
Fees, where charged, must be paid before the information is made available. There is an Internal Review prescribed fee of €30 (medical card holders €10). There is a prescribed fee for an Appeal to the Commissioner of €50 (Medical Card Holders €15). There is however no prescribed fee for a review of a decision involving personal records. Personal information requests are free.
Appeals
If you are unhappy with our decision, you may seek an internal review within 4 weeks of receiving our decision and subsequently appeal to the Information Commissioner.
If you wish to make an appeal, write to us by letter to Skillnet Ireland, 5th Floor, Q House, 76 Furze Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, or by email to foi@skillnetireland.ie, (email, letter or Form) stating that you are requesting an Internal Review of your FOI request, quoting the FOI Reference code in your Decision Letter.
If you are still dissatisfied, you can seek an independent review from the Office of the Information Commissioner If you have not received a reply to your application for the internal review within 3- weeks, this is deemed to be a refusal, and you may appeal the matter to the Information Commissioner.
Appeals in writing, and, if applicable, accompanied by the appropriate fee, (see under Fees below) may be made directly to the Information Commissioner in any of the following ways:
By email
You can send an email to info@oic.ie
By Letter
If you prefer to write a letter, the OIC postal address is:
6, Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2, D02 W773.
Telephone: 01 639 5689
For more information, please refer to the OIC website, www.oic.ie.