Complaint to Public Authority regarding a Freedom of Information Request
If an applicant is not completely satisfied with the way his/her Freedom of Information request was handled, s/he can complain to the public authority through its internal complaints procedure, and a reply to the complaint is provided within ten (10) working days. One should submit his/her complaint to the public authority not later than thirty (30) working days from the last communication of the public authority or the act or omission giving rise to the complaint, whichever is the later date.
Complaints can be submitted when:
1. The applicant does not receive any notification from the public authority;
2. the public authority has extended the 20 day working timeframe;
3. the applicant’s request is refused;
4. the format of the document that was provided is different to the applicant’s original request (this includes the provision of a document that has deleted matter, or the provision of a different document than that requested); or
5. the applicant considers the fees charged as excessive.
