About Freedom of Information

Further information is available on the website of the FOI Central Policy Unit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

For further queries on FOI in relation to ESB Networks DAC, you can email foi@esbnetworks.ie or write to:

ESB Networks DAC,
Freedom of Information Office,
4th Floor, 3 Gateway, East Wall Road, Dublin 3, 
Ireland,  D03R583

1. Send in a request using one of the following options:

• Send a letter outlining your request to ESB Networks DAC., Freedom of Information Office, 4th Floor, Three Gateway, East Wall Road, Dublin 3, D03 R583, Ireland.
• Submit your request as an email to  foi@esbnetworks.ie
• Download the ESB_FOI Application Form (PDF | 484 KB) and post to ESB Networks DAC., Freedom of Information Office, 4th Floor, Three Gateway, East Wall Road, Dublin 3, D03 R583, Ireland.

Your FOI request should include the following:

• A declaration that the request is being made under the Freedom of Information Act
• As much detail as possible about the requested records
• The format you wish to receive any records released in (e.g. photocopies)
• Your contact information.

Please note that proof of identity is required in the case of an FOI request for personal information.

2. Receive an acknowledgment

We will issue a letter of acknowledgment to you within 10 working days (excluding public holidays) of your request being received. The next stages of the process will be clearly explained in this letter.

3. Decision is issued

A decision will normally be issued within 20 working days of the receipt of your request. If an extension is necessary to facilitate the completion of the request, we will contact you and explain the requirement.

Please contact our FOI Unit if you require any assistance in making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2014 via post or email.

Post

FOI Officer ESB Networks DAC,
Freedom of Information Office
4th Floor, Three Gateway, East Wall Road, Dublin 3,D03 R583, Ireland.

Email

 foi@esbnetworks.ie

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 applies to ESB Networks DAC. in its capacity as the licensed Distribution System Operator License (DSO) (PDF | 1 MB).

From 14 October 2015, the public can seek access to records concerning ESB Networks DAC. functions under its Distribution System Operator Licence created on or after 21 April 2008 and to personal information with no date restrictions.

To allow ESB Networks DAC. to properly conduct its business, it is often necessary to exempt certain types of information from release under specific circumstances set out in the Freedom of Information Act.

Among the exemptions are records relating to confidential or commercially sensitive information, and the personal information of other people. If any exemptions are necessary, we will explain the reasons to you.

A request may also be refused for other reasons, such as if it is unclear. In such cases, we aim to help you overcome such issues with requests.

Please be aware that ESB is not included as an FOI Body under the Freedom of Information Act 2014. Accordingly, FOI requests to ESB cannot be processed by the ESB Networks DAC. FOI Office.

Distribution System Operator License

(PDF | 1 MB)

Not necessarily. We routinely make information available to the public through the ESB Networks website. FOI provides an additional source of information by facilitating access to records concerning ESB Networks DAC functions under its Distribution System Operator Licence which are not made routinely available.

Publication Scheme

Not necessarily. We routinely make information available to the public through the ESB Networks website. FOI provides an additional source of information by facilitating access to records concerning ESB Networks DAC functions under its Distribution System Operator Licence which are not made routinely available. ​ To find out more about what information is available, please see our Publication Scheme.

Table 1 - Charges for non-personal requests

Details of actual charges relating to your request will be notified and explained to you in writing.

How to make a payment

Payment should be made by cheque, bank draft, or postal order and made payable to ESB Networks and sent to:

ESB Networks DAC
FOI Office
4th Floor
Three Gateway
East Wall Road
Dublin 3
Ireland
D03 R583

List of FOI Fees:

• Search and Retrieval – €20 per hour (for requests that exceed the €100 minimum in terms of search, retrieval, and copying), subject to the ceilings mentioned above. We will provide you with an estimate of these fees before they are incurred;
• Photocopying - €0.04 per sheet
• Internal review fee €30 (€10 for medical cardholders)
• Appeal to the Information Commissioner fee €50 (€15 for medical cardholders).

Notes:

1. If you are claiming a reduced application fee, the request must be accompanied by the Medical Card registration number, issuing HSE Board name, and your consent to the verification of these details with that Board.
2. A full list of fees is available from the ESB Networks DAC. FOI Office on request.

You may appeal any decision by writing to the ESB Networks DAC Freedom of Information Office, seeking an internal review of the matter.

ESB Networks DAC

Freedom of Information Office, 4th Floor,

3 Gateway, East Wall Road, Dublin 3 D03 R583

Ireland

A fee of €30 (€10 for medical cardholders) may apply for such an appeal. There is no fee for internal review applications concerning only personal information, or in relation to a decision to impose a fee or deposit.

You should make your appeal within four weeks of the date of response (although late appeals may be permitted in certain circumstances). The appeal will involve a complete reconsideration of the matter by a more senior member of ESB Networks staff and a decision will be communicated to you within three weeks.

You may appeal the decision within six months by writing to the Office of the Information Commissioner. If you make an appeal, the Information Commissioner will fully investigate the matter and issue a fresh decision. All appeals should be addressed to:

The Information Commissioner,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2,
DO2 HE97

Phone

+353 1 6395689

Fax

+353 1 6395674

Email

Info@oic.ie

A fee of €50 (€15 for medical cardholders) may apply for such an application. Again, there is no fee for appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner concerning only personal information or in relation to a decision to impose a fee or deposit.