FOI requests - anyone have an experience?

Kotek Besar

So I submitted an FOI request to the Department of Justice. I got a letter acknowledging the request and stating that the results will be delivered in 20 working days. However, if I do not receive the results within this time, I can take it that it's been deemed refused, at which point I can request an internal review (that's what they've said in the letter).

Thing is, an internal review costs €75. I've already paid €15 (cheque has been cashed, too).

So I'd rather that they deliver the request info on time, rather than being late and causing me to cough up another €75 on top of the €15 they've already had off me.

Or have I completely misinterpreted the process?

Incidentally, making an FOI request is free in the UK (link), why do we have all these hefty charges?

Danniboo

Sorry for thread crashing but I didn't see the point in starting another one. I sent and FOI request in to a hospital in late February and still have had no response. It says on their website they must acknowledge within 2 weeks of receipt of request. What can I do?

Kotek Besar

*Bumpage*

Anyone?

Tom Young

Kotek Besar wrote: »

*Bumpage*

Anyone?

Question 1. No, interpretation correct; and

Question 2. Because we do, it's what our elected representative went with.

I support the Ombudsman's recent pronouncements in relation to liberalisation of this area and all/most government data.

Tom

Caveat: I would be mindful that the civil service is on a go slow at the moment. The 'boiler plate' statement on that letter might not hold in the current environment, e.g., not hearing anything means its been rejected.

Kotek Besar

Tom Young wrote: »

Question 1. No, interpretation correct

Ok so, they go over the time limit which then deems the request to be refused and this causes me to be forced to pay another €75? Does that not seem a tad ridiculous?

Tom Young

Yep. Vote for someone who will fix it! (Good luck with that)

Draco

It used to be free but they changed it to have a fee to allegedly stop spurious trawling requests.

Tom Young

Draco wrote: »

It used to be free but they changed it to have a fee to allegedly stop spurious trawling requests.

There was a view it was also to discourage scandals and media cannon fodder such as the TD expense row.

Quiet news days are a total curse! (If you're a newspaper editor)

Our man in Havana

Well the newspapers are the ones who would have the cash available to make requests.

Kotek Besar

UPDATE:

Kotek Besar wrote: »

Ok so, they go over the time limit which then deems the request to be refused and this causes me to be forced to pay another €75? Does that not seem a tad ridiculous?

I asked the question above to the FOI Central Policy Unit, and I received the following reply:

The answer to your query is as follows;
If the Government Department does not respond to you query within the 20 working days then it is a deemed refusal.
Under these circumstances i.e."deemed refusal" you will not be charged for internal review, or for a review by the Information Commissioner.

(bolding is theirs).

Happy days.