Overview
RPA became subject to the Freedom of Information Act on November 22nd 2002.
For general information on the Freedom of Information Act and its implementation at RPA please browse the Frequently Asked Questions.
For further information, please contact:
by post:
Freedom of Information Office,
Railway Procurement Agency,
Parkgate Business Centre,
Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8,
Ireland.
by fax:
+353 (0)1 6463401
by phone:
+353 (0)1 6463400
by email:
foi@rpa.ie
FOI Frequently asked questions
Q - What is FOI?
A - RPA came within the scope of the Acts with effect from the 1st November 2002 and the Minister of Finance signed the regulations on the 22nd November 2002.
The Freedom of Information Act, 1997
The Freedom of Information Act came into effect on the 21st April 1998 and introduced three legal rights for people:
- to access official records held by Government Departments and other listed public bodies,
- to be given reasons for decisions taken by public bodies that affect them and
- to have personal information held on them corrected or updated where such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading.
The Freedom of Information Act, 2003
The Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act, 2003 came into effect on 11th April 2003.
Q - Do I need to make an FOI request to get information from RPA?
A - No, it is not necessary to make an FOI request to get information from RPA. A considerable amount of material is already made available to the public through information leaflets, publications, our website and in response to enquiries. RPA has a dedicated Public Relations Department, which is available to assist with general queries, requests for information and publications.
Q - What records can be requested?
A - Under the Act, the following records are accessible:
- all records created under the Act commenced 21st April 1998
- all personal records of clients, whenever created
- all records of staff created after 21st April 1995, or earlier if used adversely against staff member and
- all records created earlier if needed to understand records created after that date.
Q - How does FOI work?
A - The Act requires public 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 (allowing for public holidays).
Section 15/16 Reference Books
Public bodies must also produce reference books (known as FOI Section 15/16 Reference Books) setting out the structure of their organisation, the arrangements in place for providing information and any rules, guidelines or practices they use in reaching decisions that affect the public. Currently a copy of our Section 15 Reference Book: 'Guide to Functions and Records of Railway Procurement Agency' and our Section 16 Reference Book 'Rules and Procedures of Railway Procurement Agency' can be downloaded clicking here or by emailing our FOI Office or by telephoning 353 (0)1 6463400. A hard copy can be inspected at our head office. Please note that these manuals are currently under revision.
Freedom of Information
Q - How do I make an FOI Request to RPA?
A - Requests under the Freedom of Information Acts should be made in writing to the Freedom of Information Office:
by post:
Freedom of Information Office,
Railway Procurement Agency,
Parkgate Business Centre,
Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8.
by fax:
+353 (0)1 6463401
by email:
foi@rpa.ie
A downloadable request form is available by clicking here.
If your request is for a record containing non-personal information, an application fee of €15 (€10 if you are a medical card holder) must accompany your request. There is no application fee if your request is for personal information only. The letter should state that the request is being made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003. Please give as much information as possible to enable the staff of RPA to process your request. Also please include a daytime contact telephone number to enable our staff dealing with your application to contact you should any clarification be required in relation to your request.
Q - How much will it cost?
A - Fees apply in respect of the time spent searching and retrieving records that are released to you on foot of your request and respect of the copying of any records released. Such fees are unlikely to arise if your request is for personal information. The rates of these fees are as follows:
- €20.95 per hour of search and retrieval
- €0.04 per sheet for a photocopy
- €0.51 for a three and a half inch computer diskette containing copy documents
- €10.16 for a CD-ROM containing copy documents
- €6.35 for a radiograph containing copy documents
Deposits
A deposit is payable where the estimated cost of search and retrieval of records sought is estimated to exceed €50.79.
Reductions and Waivers
A fee 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. A fee in respect of search and retrieval and copying of records or a deposit may be reduced or waived where the information in the record would be of particular assistance to the understanding of an issue of national importance.
A charge applies to most internal and independent reviews (Information Commissioner)concerning access to non-personal records. There is a reduction for medical cardholders.
Q - How soon can a person making a request for records expect a reply?
A - Under the Act a request for records must be acknowledged within 2 weeks and, in most cases, responded to within 4 weeks. If a third party is involved, there may be another three or more weeks before a response.
Q - What is the next step if I am unhappy with a decision on my request?
A - If you are dissatisfied with RPA's response you can seek to have a decision re-examined by a more senior member of staff within RPA. Applications for review of a decision should be addressed to:
Freedom of Information Office,
Railway Procurement Agency,
Parkgate Business Centre,
Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8.
A standard application fee of €75 (€25 for medical card holders) must accompany all appeals relating to non-personal information.
If you are still unhappy with the decision, you have the right to appeal the decision to the Information Commissioner:
by post:
Office of the Information Commissioner,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.
by phone:
+353 (0)1 6785222
by fax:
+353 (0)1 6610570
by email:
info@oic.ie
A standard fee of €150 (€50 for medical card holders) must accompany all requests for a review by the Information Commissioner for records relating to non-personal information.
Q - Can I get help in making a request?
A - Yes, if you require any help, the staff of the FOI Office will be happy to assist you in the formulation of your request. The Office is also available to provide assistance to persons with a disability to exercise their rights under the FOI Act (e.g. accepting oral requests from requesters who are unable to read, print and/or write due to their disability, enabling the requester to inspect or have records explained to him or her). The Office can be contacted:
by post:
Freedom of Information Office,
Railway Procurement Agency,
Parkgate Business Centre,
Parkgate Street,
Dublin 8.
by fax:
+353 (0)1 6463401
by phone:
+353 (0)1 6463400
by email:
foi@rpa.ie