Fees for review by the Commissioner

Fees Payable

Category A: Applications for review where no fee is payable

  • The records sought contain only personal information about the requester;
  • The review relates to a decision by a public body on foot of an application for the amendment of records (section 17 application) or for a statement of reasons (section 18 application);
  • 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 is made by the third party;
  • The application relates to the refusal by a public body to accept a late application for internal review;
  • where a public body has failed to respond to an application for internal review within the necessary time limit. 

Category B of €50 is payable: Applications for review where a reduced fee is payable

  • The requester is a medical card holder or dependant of a medical card holder and the request is not made on behalf of another person who is seeking to avoid payment of the full fee;
  • 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 where the full fee of €150 is payable

All other applications.

Where applicants for review are satisfied that the full fee of €150 is payable, payment of that amount should be made to the Office at the time of the making of the application for review.

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 the dependant of a medical card holder), evidence of this should be provided to this Office.

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 this Office to make a determination about the fee payable, should be provided to the Office with the appropriate fee (if any) at the time of the making of the application for review.

For example, if it is considered that the application falls within Category A, a copy of the request / relevant decision should be furnished; if it is considered that the application falls within Category B a copy of the medical card should be furnished.

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. Thus, no action will be taken in relation to the matter until this Office is satisfied that the appropriate fee has been paid in full.

Payment of Fees

Fees may be paid on-line , or by any of the of the following methods only:

  • Cheque/Bank Draft/ Postal Order: crossed and made payable to the Office of the Information Commissioner

  • Cash: Fees in cash may only be paid in person at the Office of the Information Commissioner between the hours of 9.15 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9.15 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. Friday.

NOTE: cash should not be sent by post.