What is the Right to know?
if you have Internet access, on our website.
than 20 working days after the date of
Details of the information available is listed
receipt. This timescale may have to be
The Freedom of Information Act 2000
in our Publication Scheme which can be
extended if the information requested is
and the Environmental Information
accessed on our website
very extensive and, therefore takes a long
Regulations 2004 came into effect on 1
www.doeni.gov.uk/foi. The Publication
time to gather, or if we have to consider if
January 2005. The legislation gives you the
Scheme is also available in the reception
providing it is in the public interest, or if
right to request information held by a wide
areas of the Department’s public ofﬁces, or
we are waiting for you to pay a fee.
range of public authorities.
by writing to, or phoning the Information
Management Branch at the following
It will help us to process your request more
address:
quickly if you can be as speciﬁc as possible
What information can I obtain?
about what information you want. If
Information Management Branch
necessary, we will contact you to ensure we
The legislation enables you to get
Room 6-01A
understand your request clearly and this
information to help you to understand
Department of the Environment
may add to the time we need to respond.
better how the Department works, how
Clarence Court
It is also important to tell us whether you
we spend public money, and how and why
Adelaide Street
want the information sent to you on paper
we make our decisions. However, you may
Belfast BT2 8GB
or by email, and whether you have any
not be able to obtain all the information
particular requirements. Information may
you ask for as the legislation contains
Phone: 028 90 540012
be available in other languages or formats
exemptions for some types of information
on request.
which cannot be disclosed, for example,
If the information you want is not available
information about national security, law
from these sources, you can ask for the
enforcement or personal information
Is there a cost for getting
information by writing to the department
about others.
at the above address or by sending the
information?
electronic mail form on our website.
You can also get information under the
The website also contains more detailed
You may have to pay for information which
Data Protection Act 1998 which, amongst
information about the Freedom of
is already published by the Department,
other things, gives individuals access to
Information Act and the Environmental
for example, the provision of an Agency’s
their own personal information.
Information Regulations, and our
Annual Report. You may also have to pay a
procedures for dealing with requests for
fee for other information requested.
What are exemptions?
information under this legislation.

This depends on a number of factors
Both the Freedom of Information Act and
The website also provides a link to the
including the volume of material
the Environmental Information Regulations
Northern Ireland public sector portal
requested. Responses to enquiries that cost
contain a number of exemptions (in the
www.onlineni.net where you can
the department less than £600 to process1
Regulations they are called “exceptions”)
obtain further information on accessing
will normally be provided free of charge,
allowing the Department to withhold
the websites of all Northern Ireland
although there may be a small charge for
information in certain circumstances.
Government Departments.
disbursements2 . The Department has the
However, most of the information held
Please note that you must provide us with
right to refuse to respond to a request
by the Department will not be subject to
your name and address (or email address)
that is estimated to cost more than £600
exemptions.
to enable us to respond to your request.
to process. However, we may process the
request if the cost is greater than £600 and
if we do, you will be charged the costs in
How do I get information held by
How long does it take to get
full.
the Department?
information?

A wide range of information is already
The legislation requires us to respond to
1Includes the cost of ﬁnding, sorting or editing the material
available to the public either in printed
your request for information as soon as
form (for which there may be a charge) or,
2
possible after it is received, and not later
Disbursements may include costs of photocopying,
printing, postage etc

Document Outline

leaflet 4 Aug 04 page 1.pdf
leaflet page 2.pdf