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Freedom of Information
From Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA)
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The Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI Act 2014), was signed by the President on 14th October 2014, and became effective on that day, subject to certain commencement dates for the specific provisions set out in section 1 of the Act. The new Act can be found in the document below.
You may apply to the Commission for Public Service Appointments for certain information held by the Commission, but the FOI Act 2014 limits the records which may be accessed.
Under the FOI Act, any person is entitled to apply for access to information which is not otherwise publicly available. In general, as person has a right to:
- Access to records held by the Office
- Correction of personal information, relating to oneself, held by the Office, where such information is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading.
- Access to reasons for decisions made by the Office which directly affect oneself.
Other records such as those relating to the administration of the Office may be also available under the FOI Act (subject to the standard exemptions).
To request records of the Commission for Public Service Appointments, please write to us stating that you are making a request under the FOI Act 2014. You should address your request to the FOI Officer, Commission for Public Service Appointments, 6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 W773, or info@cpsa.ie
If you are looking for a record you should provide as much information as possible to allow us find it. If you want it in a particular format (e.g. a photocopy, transcript, computer disc; or if you want to examine it) you should state this clearly in your request. If you are looking for an amendment to a record, your request should identify the record concerned and the amendment required. You should also provide evidence that the amendment is necessary.
In certain circumstances fees are charged under the FOI Act 2014. There is no fee for making an initial FOI request; the fee for an internal review is €30, or €10 for the holder of a medical card. If a fee is payable in respect of an internal review to this Office you may pay by cheque, bank draft or postal order.
Once this Office receives a request it has up to four weeks to make a decision. The decision will issue to you in writing and will specify whether your request is being granted, part-granted or refused. It will also give you the reason(s) behind the decision.
If you are unhappy with the decision or if after the four weeks you have not received a decision (this is called a refusal to your FOI request by non-reply) your next step is to apply for an 'internal review'.
An 'internal review' is an appeals mechanism within this Office which will be carried out by an officer who is more senior than the individual who made the decision on your original request. To request an internal review you must write to this Office referring to the decision received (if one was made) and state that you are making an internal review appeal. You cannot raise any further issues in your internal review appeal. The sole purpose of the review is for another officer to reconsider the decision on your original request only. This Office has three weeks to make a decision on your request for an internal review.
If you are not happy with the internal review decision, or if after the three weeks you have not received a decision (this is deemed a refusal by non-reply) your next step, in accordance with section 24(3) of the FOI Act 2014, is to appeal the decision on a point of law to the High Court. Section 24(4)(a) of the FOI Act 2014 provides that such an appeal must generally be initiated not later than 4 weeks after notice of the decision concerned was given to the person bringing the appeal. However, where the decision of this Office is to grant access to some records (including parts of records) but not all records requested, section 24(4)(b)(i) provides that the requester shall have 8 weeks after the date of the notification of the decision to initiate an appeal to the High Court.