Fees for Review by the Commissioner

Fees Payable

Category A:  Application for Review - No Fee Payable

An application for review does not attract a fee where:

  • the records requested contain only personal information relating to the requester;
  • the review relates to a decision by a public body on an application for the amendment of records (application under section 17) or for a statement of reasons (application under section);
  • the review relates to a decision by a public body to charge a fee;
  • the review relates to a decision to grant only personal information relating to a third party and the application for review is made by the third party;
  • the application relates to the refusal by a public body to accept a late application for internal review;
  • a public body has failed to respond to an application for internal review within the necessary time limit. 

Category B:  Application for Review - Reduced Fee (€50)

A reduced fee (€50) is payable where:

  • the requester is a medical card holder or a dependant of a medical card holder;
  • the application relates to a decision by a public body to grant access to records relating to a third party and the application is made by the third party.

Category C:  Application for Review - Full Fee (€150)

The full fee (€150) is payable for all other applications for review.

Method of Payment

The application fee may be paid by any of the of the following methods:

  • on-line 
  • Cheque / Bank Draft / Postal Order, crossed and made payable to the Office of the Information Commissioner
  • Cash, in person at the Office of the Information Commissioner between 9.15 am and 5.30 pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9.15 am and 5.15 pm (Friday).

Notes

  1. Where applicants for review are satisfied that an application fee is payable, payment of that amount (€150 or €50) should be made to the Office of the Commissioner at the time of the making of the application for review.
  2. Where the public body handling the original request has accepted that no fee is payable or that the requester / applicant holds a medical card (or is a dependant of same), evidence of this should be provided to the Office of the Commissioner.
  3. Otherwise, where applicants for review are of the view that a fee is not payable or a reduced fee is payable, the relevant supporting information, which would enable the Office of the Commissioner to make a determination about the fee payable, should be provided to the Office of the Commissioner.   For example, if it is considered that the application falls within Category A, a copy of the request / relevant decision should be provided; if it is considered that the application falls within Category B a copy of the medical card should be provided.  Applicants for review should be aware that, where the correct fee has not been paid, the application is deemed not to have been made to this Office. 
  4. Cash should not be sent by post.