Publication Scheme

Purpose of Scheme

The Scheme is designed to facilitate the provision of information to the greatest extent possible, except for information exempted under the Act and, in preparing, reviewing or revising a Publication Scheme, an FOI body shall have regard to the public interest in:

(a)          allowing public access to information held by the FOI body;

(b)          the publication of reasons for decisions made by the FOI body; and

(c)           publishing information of relevance or interest to the general public in relation  to its activities and functions generally. 

Scheme Format and Access

The Scheme is web based with links from it to information under six headings as set out below which will be updated as provided for under the Act.  A hard copy will be available for viewing by appointment also.

Six Information Sets

Information will be provided under the following six headings:

  • A. Information About the FOI Body, 
  • B. Functions and Public Services Provided or to be provided
  • C. Decision Making procedures,     
  • D. Financial Information,
  • E.  Procurement,                                
  • F.  Information Routinely Published and Miscellaneous

Within each of these the following Information will be available:

A.      Information about the FOI Body

Who we are and what we do,   Organisational information , structures, locations and contacts.

In this section FOI Bodies will provide details of:

  1. Establishment of organisation
  2. Roles,
  3. Responsibilities 
  4. Functions
  5. Governance arrangements
  6. Management arrangements 
  7. Corporate Plans and Strategies
  8. Annual Report
  9. Organisation Structure: Page 5 of Corporate Plan, 2015 to 2019.
  10. Pay/Grading Structures
  11. Locations and contact details for the organisation
  12. Links to agencies/other bodies under the FOI body’s remit  (Page 10).
  13. Details of Service Level Agreements / Memoranda of Understanding, if any
  14. Customer Charters
  15. Codes of Practice or Guidelines

B.      Services Provided or to be provided to the Public

The services we offer: Details of functions and services that the organisation provides and the decision making process

In this section FOI bodies provide details of:

  1. Services provided for public including administration of an enactment / scheme (e.g. grant schemes)
  2. How such services can be accessed
  3. How much such services cost to access, if any
  4. Administration of such services
  5. Review or appeal rights relating to such services
  6. Research projects undertaken in respect of these functions / services

C.      Decision Making process for major policy proposals

How we make decisions on policies: Decision Making processes and records of decisions

In this section FOI bodies provide details of:

  1. Major policy proposals including any public consultation exercises      

          Local Economic and Community Plan:  LECP

          Wexford Public Participation Network: WPPN

          Wexford Age Friendly County.

          Arts Policies.

    2.     Background information relating to major policy proposals and decisions

            LCDC

           Community SPC  

     3.    Reports on the operation of public services by the FOI body

     4.   Expenditure reviews 

     5.   Policy assessments

D.     Financial Information

What we spend: Financial information relating to income and expenditure

FOI bodies provide the following information in this section:

  1. Financial statements  Annual Financial Statement.
  2. Major plans for Capital Expenditure Library 
  3. Payments or Purchase Orders for goods and services
  4. Governance Board Member remuneration
  5. Funding / Sponsorship of non-public bodies

E.       Procurement 

How we spend: Information relating to how we procure goods and services

FOI bodies provide the following details in this section:

  1. Procurement policies
  2. A link to all current tender competitions on the eTenders website
  3. Public contracts awarded including contract type, contractor, value, award date, duration and brief description (tabular format) over €10k for ICT and over €25k for other contracts.

F.       FOI Disclosure Log and Other Information to be Published Routinely

Other information:           FOI bodies publish the type of information listed below as appropriate, in addition to any other information that would provide information to the public.

For example:-

  1. FOI Disclosure Log
  2. Reports
  3. Commercial publications and relative charges 
  4. Information held by the body which is sought regularly :See FOI Disclosure Log 

Further Information:  

For more information on the Publication Scheme please contact the FOI Office