You have a legal right to see records held by government departments, the HSE, councils and many other public bodies. Here is how to ask, what it costs and what to do if you are refused.
To make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, write to the FOI officer of the public body that holds the records and say you are asking under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. It is free to ask, and the body should normally decide within 4 weeks.
Who this is for
Anyone can make a request. You can ask for records about you, such as your social welfare or medical files, and for other records created since 21 April 1998. Older records are covered if they are about you or you need them to understand later ones.
FOI covers bodies such as government departments, the HSE, local councils and publicly funded universities. For records a private company holds about you, make a data protection request under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) instead.
What you need
- The name of the body that holds the records, and its FOI officer's email or postal address (usually on its website)
- A clear description of the records, with dates or a date range
- How you want them, for example by email or as paper copies
- A copy of your photo ID if you are asking for your own personal records
- Your name, address and email so the body can reply
Step by step
- Check the body's website first. The information may already be published, or staff may give it to you without a formal request.
- Find the body's FOI page. Use its FOI form if it has one, or write an email or letter.
- Write "This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2014" at the top.
- Describe exactly what you want. A vague or very wide request can be delayed or refused.
- Attach a copy of your ID if the records are about you.
- Send it to the FOI officer and keep a copy with the date.
- Expect an acknowledgement within 2 weeks and a decision within 4 weeks.
- Pay any search and retrieval charge only if the body tells you it applies and you agree.
- Ask for an internal review in writing if you are refused or get no reply.
How much it costs and how long it takes
| Step | Standard fee | Medical card holders | Your own personal records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making a request | Free | Free | Free |
| Internal review | €30 | €10 | Free |
| Review by the Information Commissioner | €50 | €15 | Free |
Search and retrieval costs €20 an hour, but only if the total is over €101. The most you can be charged is €500, and photocopies cost 4 cent a sheet. Requests for your own records are unlikely to be charged unless they are very large.
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Acknowledgement | Within 2 weeks |
| Decision | Normally within 4 weeks |
| Extension, if the body tells you in writing | Up to 4 more weeks |
| Ask for internal review | Normally within 4 weeks of the decision |
| Internal review result | Within 3 weeks |
Common mistakes
- Not mentioning the FOI Act 2014. Your email may be treated as an ordinary query.
- Asking for "all records about X". If the cost would go over €700, the body can refuse unless you narrow it.
- Sending the request to the wrong body. Send it to the one that holds the records.
- Going straight to the Information Commissioner. In most cases you must ask for an internal review first.
- Leaving out your ID for personal records, which delays your request.
If something goes wrong
- Refused, or no reply after 4 weeks? Write to the FOI officer asking for an internal review. A more senior staff member must decide it.
- Still unhappy after the review, or no review decision within 3 weeks? Apply to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), which reviews FOI decisions.
- The Commissioner's decision is binding. It can only be appealed to the High Court on a point of law.
- FOI Central Policy Unit: 01 604 5245. Citizens Information Phone Service: 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.
Related guides
- How to get a verified MyGovID
- How to get Garda vetting
- How to apply for a medical card or GP visit card
- How to get a copy of a birth, marriage or death certificate
A Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill is on the Government's Autumn 2026 legislation list, following a review of the 2014 Act. Work on it is ongoing.
