Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2014 applies to all public bodies, unless
specifically exempt.
It provides that every person has the following legal rights:
• the right to access official records held by public bodies prescribed under
the Act (FOI bodies);
• 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 FOI bodies that affect
them.
Any person may make an FOI request under the Act and, normally, the public body in question must respond within four weeks after acknowledging the request. In the case of large and/or complex requests, this timeframe may be extended by a further four weeks.
FOI at the PCSA
At the PCSA, FOI requests should be sent to foi@pcsaireland.ie and will be
processed in accordance with FOI legislation. Following retrieval and examination of the requested records the Decision Maker may grant full access to the information requested, or may refuse access to some or all of the information requested based on specific grounds detailed within the Act.
Under the Act, the person who has requested the information has the right to
appeal an FOI body’s decision – firstly to an Internal Reviewer, and then to the
Office of the Information Commissioner if the decision is still considered to be
unsatisfactory. The Information Commissioner’s decision in this instance is
binding.
How to make a request
FOI requests should be submitted by email to foi@pcsaireland.ie or in writing to
the FOI Officer at the address provided below.
Your request should:
• Include a statement that your request is submitted under the Freedom of
Information Act 2014.
• Identify the records being sought in a clear and specific manner. A record
can be a paper document, information held on computer, printouts, maps,
plans, microfilm, microfiche, audio-visual material, etc. Give as much
information as possible about the records you want. In cases where it is not
clear what records are being sought, we will assist you in identifying the
records you require. Please include a daytime telephone number to
facilitate ease of communication.
• Where possible, indicate the time period to which the records relate e.g.
records created between 1 May, 2025 and 31 December, 2025.
• Proof of identity will be required where any personal information is being
requested, e.g. Birth Certificate, Driving Licence, Passport or other form of
identity. Please include a copy of one of these documents with your
request.
• The format in which you wish to receive any records released (e.g. paper
copies, electronic copies or in another format).
Please note that a large amount of information about the PCSA is publicly
available without the requirement for a Freedom of Information request. Those
seeking information should first refer to the PCSA website, where a range of links to Authority meetings, outreach activities and publications are available.
The PCSA FOI Publication Scheme provides further detail on the information routinely made available by the PCSA.
FOI Publication Scheme
Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires FOI bodies to prepare and publish as much information as possible in an open and accessible manner on a routine basis outside of FOI, having regard to the principles of openness, transparency and accountability as set out in the Act.
The PCSA Publication Scheme provides a summary of the types of information that is routinely published on our website. The Scheme is presented as a pdf document under six headings, with web links to further information where appropriate.
FOI Disclosures Log
The Freedom of Information Act 2014 requires FOI bodies, such as the PCSA, to publish a disclosure log, which contains details of all non-personal FOI requests received under FOI, and the decisions made by the body in response to those requests.
The PCSA FOI Disclosures Log is published on our website and updated every quarter. Please note that, for data privacy reasons, identifying information such as the name of the requester is not included in the disclosure log.
PCSA FOI Disclosures Log 31 December 2025
FAQs
What is Freedom of Information (FOI)?
The Freedom of Information Act 2014 gives you the right to access records held by FOI bodies, such as the PCSA. The decision regarding the information to be provided is normally made within four weeks, and requesters must receive an explanation regarding any information not provided.
What can I ask for?
You may ask for any of the following:
• Records relating to you personally held by the PCSA, whenever created; or
• Other records held by the PCSA created after the effective date of 21 April
1998.
Do I have to pay to get information under FOI?
There is no up-front fee for making an FOI request. There is no fee in respect of personal records, except where a large number of records are involved.
In the case of non-personal requests, charges will apply in respect of search and retrieval and any reproduction costs incurred by the PCSA in providing you with the material requested where the total cost exceeds €100.
A rate of €20 per hour will be charged for the amount of time spent where this minimum threshold (equivalent to five free hours) is exceeded. No fees will be applied without you first being informed of the estimated fees likely to incurred and you giving your approval for the search to be undertaken on that basis.
A maximum ceiling of €500 applies to such fees, but where the cost of search,
retrieval and copying is greater than €700 the request will be refused unless the
requester narrows the scope of the request.
Can I appeal a decision?
If you are unhappy with the PCSA’s response you can seek to have a decision re-examined by a more senior member of staff within the Authority. Please forward applications for review of a decision, together with a fee of €30.00 (or a reduced fee of €10.00 for medical card holders) to the FOI Unit.
Note: These fees apply only to non-personal requests.
Following this, if you are still not satisfied you can appeal this decision to the
Office of the Information Commissioner.
Information Commissioner
The main functions of the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) include:
• the review of the decisions of public bodies in relation to FOI requests and,
where necessary, the making of binding, new decisions;
• the review of the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 to
ensure that public bodies comply with their provisions;
• the fostering an attitude of openness among public bodies by the
encouragement of the voluntary publication of information above and
beyond the minimum requirements of the Acts;
• the preparation and publication of commentaries on the practical operation
of the Acts; and
• the publication of an Annual Report.
Freedom of Information (FOI) Officer
All queries to the PCSA regarding FOI should be directed to:
Freedom of Information (FOI) Officer,
Policing and Community Safety Authority,
4th Floor,
90 North King Street,
Dublin 7,
D07 N7CV.
Email: foi@pcsaireland.ie
Access to Information on the Environment (AIE)
The European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 to 2011 give legal rights to those seeking to access information on the environment from public authorities. Under these regulations, information relating to the environment held by, or for, a public authority must be made available on request, subject to certain exceptions. The AIE regulations also oblige public authorities to be proactive in disseminating environmental information to the public.
The AIE Regulations require public bodies to respond to an AIE request within four weeks of receiving it. When making a request for information under the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations you are required to: state that the application is being made under the AIE Regulations; provide your contact details;
state, in terms that are as specific as possible, the environmental information required; and, specify the form and manner of access desired.
Further information is available on Citizen’s Information.
To submit an AIE request to the PCSA, please contact us via the FOI Officer contact details listed above.