What is Freedom of Information?

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The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 was enacted on 14th October 2014. The FOI Act 2014 applies to the Property Registration Authority as and from 14th April 2015 (Section 1(3)(b)).

Under the FOI Act 2014, you have a right to:

  • access records held by FOI bodies
  • request correction of personal information relating to you held by FOI
    bodies where it is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading
  • obtain reasons for a decision made by FOI bodies where the decision
    affects you

These rights are subject to certain exemptions which are set out in the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Property Folio’s and Instruments are not releasable under FOI.

Please click here for our Information Page on how to access records retained in the PRA.

General Information enquiries can be emailed to info@prai.ie

The Information Unit can also be contacted by telephone: 051 303000

What records can I ask for under FOI?

You can ask for the following records held by this office:

  • any records relating to you personally, whenever created
  • other records created after 21st April 2008

A ‘record’ can be a paper document, information held on computer, printouts, maps, plans, microfilm, microfiche, audio-visual material, etc.

You do not have to give a reason as to why you want access to particular records and you must be given an explanation if you are refused access to any record that you have looked for. The FOI Act requires that you, the requester, give us ‘sufficient particulars’ to enable us to identify the records you require. Where your request relates to “personal information“ you must provide evidence of identity. We will accept photographic identification, for example a copy of your passport or driving licence, plus proof of address, for example a recent utility bill. Alternatively, you may use the Personal Applicant’s Identification Form.

Contact Details:

All requests under the FOI Act should be made in writing and addressed to:

By post:

FOI Officer
Property Registration Authority
Chancery Street
Dublin 7
D07 T652

By email: foi@prai.ie

Alternatively, you may use the FOI Request Form and submit this to the FOI Officer at the address given above along with appropriate identification.

A decision on your FOI application must normally be made within 20 working days.

Appealing a decision

If you are not satisfied with the decision made you can seek an internal review of the decision, which is a complete and new review of your request. This review will be conducted by someone in the organisation more senior than the original decision maker.

If following this you are still not satisfied, you can appeal this decision to the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Fees

There is no fee for making an initial application under FOI. However, in the case of requests which relate to non-personal information, there may be a fee charged for search, retrieval and copying. In relation to the search, retrieval and copying charges there is a minimum threshold of €101 below which no search, retrieval and copying charges can be charged.

There is a cap on the amount that can be charged and this is set at €500.

The fee for an internal review (excluding certain exemptions) is €30 and €10 for medical card holders and their dependants. The fee for appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner (excluding certain exemptions) is €50 and €15 for medical card holders and their dependants.

Disclosure Log

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires Freedom of Information (FOI) bodies to publish a disclosure log, which contains details of non-personal requests received under FOI and the decisions made by the body in response to those requests.

Please note that, for privacy reasons, identifying information such as the name of the requester is not included in the disclosure log. 

FOI Request Logs

Exemptions

Any official information held by public bodies can be sought under the Act. However, in order to allow Government business to be properly conducted, it will sometimes be necessary to exempt from release certain types of information in some circumstances.

These are set out in the Act. Among the key exemptions are records relating to:

  • Government meetings
  • deliberations, functions and negotiations of FOI bodies
  • law enforcement and security
  • confidential and commercially sensitive information
  • personal information (other than information relating to the person making the
    request)

 

For more comprehensive information on Freedom of Information including the text of the FOI Act, please visit the FOI Central Policy Unit website at www.foi.gov.ie