The FOI Act has three types of fees:

  • those relating to the search and retrieval involved in a request
  • those relating to copying records at the prescribed rates, and
  • those relating to Internal Review processes

There is no charge for submitting a request. The FOI Act provides that a fee will only apply where the preparation time for a request exceeds 5 hours, and the fee will be capped at €500.

List of Fees

  • No fee will be charged where the cost of search and retrieval and copying is up to and including €100.
  • Search and Retrieval – €20 per hour (for requests that exceed the €100 minimum in terms of search, retrieval and copying). If the cost of search, retrieval and copying is greater than €500 but less than €700, a maximum charge of €500 applies. Where the cost of search, retrieval and copying is greater than €700, the HRB can refuse to process the request.
  • €0.04 per sheet for a photocopy
  • Internal Review fee €30 (€10 for medical card holders)
  • Appeal to the Information Commissioner €50 (€15 for medical card holders)

Under the FOI Act the requester must be notified within 2 weeks (10 working days) of receipt of the request of the amount of any fee being charged.