Access to Information on the Environment
What is AIE?
The European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 gives legal rights to those seeking information on the environment from public bodies. These regulations came into force on 1 May 2007 and were amended by the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and 2014.
What can I ask for?
You can ask for environmental information held by, or for, the National Library of Ireland. Environmental information is defined in the AIE regulations and determines what is available under the AIE regulations.
How do I make an AIE request to the NLI?
If you wish to seek information on the environment under the AIE regulations, you will need to make your request in writing by email to aie@nli.ie or by post to:
AIE Officer,
National Library of Ireland,
4 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
D02 A322
Email: aie@nli.ie
In your correspondence you should:
- State that your request is being made under the AIE Regulations.
- Give your name, address and any other relevant contact details.
- Being as specific as possible, tell us what environmental information you require and in what preferred format.
How will my request be dealt with by the NLI?
The NLI will acknowledge receipt of your request within ten working days.
The NLI will make every effort to respond within one month of receipt of your request. If we are unable to meet this timeline then we will write to you within one month to advise you when a response will be issued. The response will issue not more than two months from the receipt of the original request in accordance with the AIE regulations.
If you are dissatisfied with the initial response or if you have not received a reply within the appropriate timeframe then you can submit a request for an internal review, in writing within one month of receipt of the original response, to the AIE Officer.
The NLI official who undertakes the internal review will write to you within one month of the date of receipt of the review request and explain the outcome of the review.
If you are dissatisfied with the internal review outcome then you can submit a request for an independent review from the Commissioner for Environmental Information. Please visit the website of the Commissioner for Environmental Information for further information.
What fees are payable in relation to my AIE request?
There is no application fee payable for submitting a request for information under the AIE regulations.
In accordance with the regulations, the NLI may charge a reasonable fee for the supply of records/information in relation to your request which includes the cost of compiling, photocopying, printing and postage.
The NLI fees are set as follows:
- Photocopy: €0.04 per sheet
- CD-Rom: €10.00
These charges may be waived where the total cost of supplying the information/records is estimated to be less that €10. There is no fee payable if you wish to receive electronic versions of the information/records via email. You will be advised of any charges payable in the response letter to your request.
There is no application fee for an internal review.
A fee is payable to the Commissioner for Environmental Information for an independent review. Please visit the website of the Commissioner for Environmental Information for further information.
Where can I find more information?
General information in relation to the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007-2014 can be found on the websites of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment and the Commissioner for Environmental Information.
The National AIE Statistics Database, which includes information in relation to the NLI, is available here.
Assistance in making requests
If you have any queries the AIE Officer may be contacted by email at aie@nli.ie.