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ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND
Public Information Leaflet
on
The Freedom of Information Act 2000
Note: This guide is an overview of some of the main provisions of the Act and should not be regarded as a legal interpretation.
1. What does the Freedom of Information Act do? The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives everyone the right to get information from public authorities. The FOI Act means that, from 1st January 2005, you will be able to get information to understand better how the Arts Council of Northern Ireland works, how we spend public money, and how and why we make our decisions.
2. You can also get information under:
The Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) which, amongst other things, gives individuals access to their own personal information. The DPA applies to private enterprise as well as public authorities.
The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs) which gives people access to environmental information. EIRs apply to “environmental information” held by organisations that perform functions of a public nature.
3. How do I get information about the Arts Council of Northern Ireland under the FOI Act? If you have access to the Internet you can get information on our website at www.artscouncil-ni.org . Alternatively you can write to us at;
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
MacNeice House
77 Malone Road
Belfast
BT9 6AQ
4. How long does it take to get information? Once a written request for information is received, we have 20 working days to respond - although that time can be extended where:
an exemption applies and we need to consider the public interest;
we are awaiting payment of a fee by you.
Sometimes we might need to contact you in order to clarify exactly what information you are interested in. It will help us to process your request more quickly if you can be as specific as possible about what information it is you want. Please make sure that you give provide us with your name and address and a contact telephone number.
5. Is there a cost for getting information? This depends on a number of factors including the volume of material requested. Responses to enquiries that cost the Arts Council of Northern Ireland less than £600 to process will be normally be provided free of charge. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has the right to refuse to respond to a request that is estimated to cost more than £600 to process. If the cost is greater than £600 and you agree to pay these costs the Arts Council of Northern Ireland will normally provide you with the information once the fee has been paid.
6. What happens if the information I want is not available? The FOI Act does not require us to gather information that is not already there. But we are required to assist you with your request. We will contact you and tell you what information we do hold that might help to answer your query or suggest another public authority who may hold the information you are looking for.
7. Can I have any information at all? The FOI Act allows you access to almost all information that a public body holds. But there are some things that cannot be given to the public. For example, information about national security, law enforcement or personal information about others - though you can obtain your own personal information through the DPA (see above). Ask about the Data Protection Act if you are seeking your own personal information.
8. What if I am refused information? We will tell you if information is being withheld and why. We will also tell you whom you should contact to request an internal review if you are not happy with our decision. After completion of the internal review you may appeal to the Information Commissioner (see details below) who will undertake an independent review. Please contact us first if you believe that we are wrongly withholding information from you.
9. Where can I get more information about the FOI Act? You can get more information about FOI from the office of the Information Commissioner. The Commissioner's details are:
Post: Information Commissioner, 51 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FE
Tel: 028 9026 9380 Fax: 028 9026 9388
Email: [email address]