About FOI
What is Freedom of Information?
The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act, 1997 and the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Act, 2003 is to provide access to information held by public bodies to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy.
The Act was extended to cover the Third Level Education Sector on 1st October, 2001.
The Act establishes three new statutory rights for all members of the public:
- The right to access records held by Government Departments and other public bodies listed in the Act
- The right to have personal information held on them corrected or updated where such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading and
- The right to be given reasons for decisions taken by public bodies that affect them.
