Your are entitled to request access to information on the environment that is held by us. This right comes from Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament, and the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 133 of 2007).
An tÚdarás has a statutory obligation to provide information in various ways, for example in its Annual Reports, under the Freedom of Information Acts, and under the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007.
The Freedom of Information Acts are not affected and will continue to operate in parallel with the new Regulations. A request for information or record may be made under either statutory provision as appropriate.
As an organisation dealing with industrial and employment promotion and with community, language and cultural development, Údarás na Gaeltachta has business property in each of the Gaeltacht counties, including land, buildings, industrial estates and business parks. Among the types of information it holds are information on business premises, estates and business parks, including properties let to tenants; environmental information on certain projects supported by an tÚdarás, environmental impact studies for planning purposes, and health and safety files.
To submit a request under these Regulations, please send a letter to the following address that outlines the type of information you want.
An Rannóg Rúnaíochta
Údarás na Gaeltachta
Na Forbacha
Co. na Gaillimhe
Note: When writing your letter make sure to state that you are seeking access to information under 'Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007'. Please include the following details:
- your name and address (and phone number if possible)
- the information or documents you would like to access; and
- the way you would like the information to be sent to you (for example as hard copy, computer disk, via email, etc.).
It will help us to process your request more quickly if you can be as specific as possible about what information you want. If necessary, we will contact you to ensure we understand your request clearly.
We will reply to you no later than 1 month after your application.
In general, we will seek to provide information free of charge. If a significant amount of material is involved, we may impose fees based on the following schedule, in which case we will give notice to you of such charges.
Schedule of Charges Associated with AIE Requests
€30.00 per hour for search and retrieval
€0.04 per sheet for a “black & white” photocopy
€0.15 per sheet for a colour A4
€0.30 per A3 colour sheet
€1.00 per sheet grater than A3
€5.00 for a CD-ROM
A 1/3 reduction in fees will be allowed for medical card holders.
Deposit may be payable where the charge is estimated to exceed €65.
The Directive covers information held in written, visual, aural, electronic or any other material form. There are 6 categories of information within this Directive:
1. The state of the elements of the environment, e.g. air, water, soil, land, landscape, biological diversity.
2. Factors affecting, or likely to affect, the elements of the environment, e.g. energy, noise, radiation, waste, other releases into the environment.
3. Measures designed to protect the elements of the environment, e.g. policies, legislation, plans, programmes, environmental agreements.
4. Reports on the implementation of environmental legislation.
5. Analyses and assumptions used within the framework of measures designed to protect the environment.
6. The state of human health and safety, the food chain, cultural sites and built structures inasmuch as they may be affected by the element of the environment.
If you are not satisfied with the response to your letter, you can request an internal review to a Higher Officer within Údarás na Gaeltachta. A fee is not charged for requesting an internal review.
To request an internal review, write to us at the address below.
If you are not satisfied with the response from the Higher Officer, you can then contact the Office of the Information Commissioner to submit an appeal. A fee applies to this appeal. The follwing is a link to the webiste of the Office of the Information Commissioner
Freedom of Information Officer,
Údarás na Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Co. na Gaillimhe.
Other contact details:
Phone: (091) 503100 Fax: (091) 503101
E-mail: asf@udaras.ie