Access to Information on the Environment

You are entitled to request access to information on the environment that is held by us. This right comes from Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament, the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 133 of 2007) the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 662 of 2011) and  the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (S.I. No. 615 of 2014).

Request environmental information

To submit a request, write us a letter that outlines the type of information you want and send it to the address shown below.

Note: When writing your letter make sure to state that you are seeking access to information under 'Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 to 2014’.

We will reply to within 1 month of receiving your application.

If you require assistance with your application or need further information contact us at the address below.

Categories of information you can access

The Directive covers information held in written, visual, aural, electronic or any other material form. There are six categories of information within this Directive:

1. The state of the elements of the environment, e.g. air, water, soil, land, landscape, biological diversity
2. Factors affecting, or likely to affect, the elements of the environment, e.g. energy, noise, radiation, waste, other releases into the environment
3. Measures designed to protect the elements of the environment, e.g. policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements
4. Reports on the implementation of environmental legislation
5. Analyses and assumptions used within the framework of measures designed to protect the environment
6. The state of human health and safety, the food chain, cultural sites and built structures in as much as they may be affected by the elements of the environment

Charges

There is no initial fee required when lodging a request for information under AIE. In line with the regulations, however, a Public authority may charge a reasonable fee for supplying environmental information.

This fee will be calculated upon receipt of a request and is dependant on the volume of work involved in compiling information where it has not been previously available in an accessible format. This fee is set at 20.95 euro per hour.

If requesters require hard copies there may be a fee of 4c per sheet depending on the volume of information contained in the request and this will be advised in the final decision letter.

The charging of this fee will not, as a general rule, exceed the actual costs of producing the material in question.

Where the estimated cost of supplying information on the environment is likely to exceed €100, 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 the request. The process will not commence until payment of deposit has been received. It should also be noted that the date for the final decision on the AIE request (which is normally within one month of receipt of the request) will be determined by reference to the date of receipt of the deposit payment.

Right of appeal

If you are not satisfied with the response to your letter, you can request an internal review to a higher officer within Dublin City Council.

To request an internal review, write to us at the address below.

If you are not satisfied with the response from the Higher Officer, you can then contact the Office of the Information Commissioner to submit an appeal.

• Visit the website of the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information.

For more information

Dublin City Council
Information Management Section
Law Department
Civic Offices
Wood Quay
Dublin 8

T. (01) 222 3775
E. [email protected]