You are entitled to request access to information on the environment that is held by Limerick City and County Council. This right comes from European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 to 2018 or "the AIE Regulations”
- How to Request Environment Information
- Categories of Information you can Access
- Right of Appeal
- Contact Information
- Useful Links
How to Request Environmental Information
- To submit a request, you can email foi@limerick.ie or write a letter that outlines the type of information you want
- Email/letter should be submitted to Jennifer Withero, AIE Officer, Limerick City and County Council, Merchant's Quay, Limerick V94 EH90
- When writing your email/letter make sure to state that you are seeking access to information under 'Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 to 2018'
We will reply to you no later than one month after your application.
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:
- The state of the elements of the environment, e.g. air, water, soil, land, landscape, biological diversity.
- Factors affecting, or likely to affect, the elements of the environment, e.g. energy, noise, radiation, waste, other releases into the environment.
- Measures designed to protect the elements of the environment, e.g. policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements.
- Reports on the implementation of environmental legislation.
- Analyses and assumptions used within the framework of measures designed to protect the environment.
- 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.
Fees
- 15 (1) - S.I No 133/2007 European Communities (Access to Information of the Environment) Regulations 2007 state that “A Public Authority may charge a fee when it makes available environmental information in accordance with these Regulations (including when it makes such information available following an appeal to the Commissioner under article 12), provided that such fee shall be reasonable having regards to the Directive.”
- 15(2) – Where a public authority charges a fee pursuant to sub-article (1), it shall make available to the public a list of fees charged, information on how they are calculated and the circumstances under which they may be waived.
Fees are included on Limerick City and County Council’s Scale of Charges and will be charged on the same basis as those currently applied under the Freedom of Information:
| Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 | |
| Charge-out rate per hour (Collect & produce Information for re-use | €20 |
| Photocopy per copy | |
| 1-2 A4 pages | Waived |
| >2 Pages | €0.19 |
| A3 Page | €0.98 |
| AO/A1/A2 | €2.46 |
| CO ROM | €10.00 |
If you are charged fees on your request and the charge is beyond your means, you can make a request to reduce or waive the fee. Documentary evidence of your means will be required, for example, evidence that you hold a current medical card or are in receipt of a social welfare benefit. All waiver requests are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Right of Appeal
If a request is refused wholly or partially an internal review may be sought no later than one month after the date of notification of the original decision. To request an internal review, write to Ms. Laura Flannery, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services Department, Limerick City and County Council, Merchant's Quay, Limerick V94 EH90. Alternatively you may email your appeal to foi@limerick.ie
There is a further right of appeal to the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information, 6 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 or visit www.ocei.ie for further details.
Contact Information
Jennifer Withero
AIE Officer
Limerick City and County Council
Merchant's Quay
Limerick V94 EH90
Phone: +353 61 557040
Email: foi@limerick.ie