Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 provides that every person has the following legal rights:

The right to access official records held by Government Departments and all public bodies that conform to the provisions of Section 6 of the Act;
The right to have personal information held on them corrected or updated where such information is incomplete, incorrect or misleading; and
The right to be given reasons for decisions taken by public bodies that affect them.

Routinely Available Information

The FOI Act is designed to facilitate access to information held by public bodies which is not routinely available. CRR makes a wide variety of information routinely available to the public through our website which can be availed of without recourse to the FOI Act.

Exemptions

The FOI Act asserts the right of every person to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible. There are, however, certain types of information which are exempt from release under the Act, consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy of individuals. Among these exemptions are records relating to:

Government meetings
Law enforcement and security
Confidential and commercially sensitive information
Personal information (other than information relating to the person making the request)

Requests may also be refused if they are deemed voluminous or unclear, but public bodies are required under the Act to assist the requester in trying to overcome these issues.

Publication Scheme

The CRR has prepared and published a Publication Scheme in accordance with Section 8 of the Act. The Scheme, which provides comprehensive information in relation to the roles, functions and types of records and information we hold, has been drafted in conformity with the Model Publication Scheme and Guidelines issued by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Making an FOI Request

Requests under the Freedom of Information Act can be requested as follows by email to foi@crr.ie, or in writing to:

Freedom of Information Officer,
Commission for Railway Regulation,
Temple House,
57 Temple Road,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin
A94 Y5W5

You must specify that you are requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act, 2014.
You must identify the records that you want to access and give us enough information to:
1. Determine if we hold the information,
2. Locate it or the documents containing it,
3. Retrieve such information or documents and,
4. Extract the information / records requested.
You must state how you would like to access the records, e.g. photocopies of the records, to attend to view the originals or get electronic copies of them.

You should clearly indicate that the request is being made under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Please be as specific as possible when detailing your request so as to enable the staff of the CRR to process your application. Also, please include a daytime contact telephone number so that we can contact you should any clarification be required in relation to your request.

The CRR must notify receipt of a request no later than 10 working days after its receipt of and make a decision no later than working 20 days of receipt of the request.

What costs could I incur in making a Request?

There is no fee for making an FOI Request. However, you must pay any search and retrieval charges, as well as the cost of copying records, over certain limits.

What type of decision will be made on my Request Application?

The Decision on your Request will be one of the following:

Full Grant of Request,
Part Grant of Request or,
Full Refusal of Request.

Why would a Request be Partially Granted or Refused?

The FOI Act contains a number of provisions to exempt the release of Personal Information to another or Sensitive or Exempt Information. Where the CRR invokes these provisions you may seek an Internal Review of that decision.

Can I Appeal a Decision if I'm not happy with it?

Yes. You may seek an Internal Review of a decision within Four Weeks of Receipt of the Decision, if

You are dissatisfied with the initial decision received e.g. refusal of information, form of access etc., partial release of information or
You have not received a reply within four weeks of the initial application – this is deemed to be a refusal of the request and allows you to seek an Internal Review.

If you not satisfied with the Charges being sought.
For Non - Personal Information there is a fee of €30.00 or €10.00 for medical card holders.

What is the cost of requesting an Internal Review?

For Personal Information no fees are payable.

Internal Reviews are carried out by a staff member of a higher rank than that of the staff member who made the decision in the first instance.

You will receive an Internal Review decision within three weeks.

A request for an Internal Review should be submitted in writing to:

Freedom of information Officer,
Commission for Railway Regulation,
Temple House,
57 Temple Road,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin
A94 Y5W5

Phone: (01) 2068110
Email: foi@crr.ie

What if I'm not happy with the Internal Review Decision or don't get it within the three week period?

You can seek a Review by the Information Commissioner if you not satisfied with the Internal Review Decision, if a Decision is not given to you within three weeks or if you are unhappy with the fees & charges sought.

The Review by the Information Commissioner is an independent review, outside of CRR, of an Internal Review Decision.

A request for a review must be made in writing to the Information Commissioner at the following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner,
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.

Phone: (01) 6395689
Fax: (01) 6395674
Email: info@oic.gov.ie

A standard fee of €50, or €15 in the case of a medical card holder must accompany a review request to the Information Commissioner.

Policy with regard to confidentiality and Freedom of Information.

Please note that CRR will process any personal data that you provide to us in accordance with our Privacy Statement, which is available here.

FOI Disclosure Log

Under Section 48 of the FOI Act, bodies are obliged to have regard to any FOI Code of Practice that is published by the Minister. The Code provides that a public body maintain and publish a log of FOI requests received, as well as records released in response to such requests, except in relation to requests for access to personal information.

Date of Request	Reference Number	Requester Category	Summary of Request	Decision Made	Date of Reply
29/11/2023	FOI231129	Journalist	Under the FOI Act 2014, I am requestioning the following documents: 1. A copy of all reports following internal investigations 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to date. 2. A copy of all reports following consultation for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to date. 3. The cost of each report. The returned records are to include investigations and consultancy carried out by external investigators and consultants.	Withdrawn	01/12/2023
05/09/2023	FOI230905	Business / Interest Group	Freedom of Information request in relation to fatal accident on 18th September 2022 at Broombridge. Any information and reports or correspondence relating to this incident.	Part-granted	03/10/2023
28/08/2023	FOI230828	Business / Interest Group	Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I wish to request a copy of the Post Occurrence Inspection report from the Accident/ Incident “RRV Overturned at Fairview Depot”	Part-granted	21/09/2023
24/08/2023	FOI230824	Journalist	Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I wish to request a copy of audits completed by the CRR since Jan 1, 2022 to date with the exception of the following (which were the subject of an earlier FOI request) a) Training and competence of train drivers in Iarnród Éireann and b) Managing of civil engineering structure and staff competence within IE's civil engineering department.	Part-granted	19/09/2023
21/08/2023	FOI230821	Business / Interest Group	Freedom of Information request - IT Services. If you use an IT Service Management solution (aka ITSM), please advise what you are currently using?	Withdrawn	15/09/2023
28/06/2023	FOI230628	Member of the Public	I wish to make freedom of information request pursuant to provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014. All records held by the CRR created/modified since 30/11/2021 with respect of: 1. Life extension of the 81/8300 LHR DART fleet 2. Corrosion/Structural integrity of the 81/8300 LHR DART fleet	Part-granted	20/07/2023
08/06/2023	FOI230608	Journalist	Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I wish to request a copy of audits conducted by the CRR into a) Training and competence of train drivers in Iarnród Éireann and b) Managing of civil engineering structure and staff competence within IE's civil engineering department.	Part-granted	05/07/2023
01/05/2023	FOI230501	Business / Interest Group	Sonraí na hIarrachta I gcomhréir le hAlt 12 de chuid an Acht um Shaoráil Faisnéise, iarraim rochtain ar thaifid: neamh-phearsanta. Seo iad na taifid atá iarraidh agam ná: Táim ag iarriadh gach leagan den Phlean Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide, atá de dhualgas ag gach eagraíocht a bheith acu de réir an Acht Aeráide, le: 1. Sonraí iomlán de gach Phleann a bhí agat ó dul-i-bhfeidhm an Achta 2. Dáta ar a foilsíodh gach Plean 3. Dáta ar a chuaigh gach Plean i bhfeidhm 4. An méid airgead, miondhealaithe de réir cúiseanna na gcoastas, a caitheadh ar chruthú agus ar chur i bhfeidhm gach Plean.	Níl an taifead ann (Record does not exist) Withdrawn	17/05/2023
09/01/2023	FOI230109	Journalist	Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, a request for a copy of all representations made to the CRR by members of the public about rail safety issues or concerns during 2021.	Granted	02/02/2023
06/01/2023	FOI230106	Business / Interest Group	An FOI Act 2014 request for records in relation to Tender Reference: CRR Recr - CRR Recruitment Services Tender 2021	Granted	16/01/2023
12/12/2022	FOI221212	Business / Interest Group	An FOI Act 2014 request for records in relation to print equipment (multi-functional devices) and suppliers.	Withdrawn	13/12/2022
20/06/2022	FOI220620	Business / Interest Group	An FOI Act 2014 request for records in relation to CCTV cameras that were procured since 2017 with their capability details, correspondence and documents with the company awarded the contract.	Withdrawn	21/06/2022
15/03/2022	FOI220315	Journalist	Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I wish to request a copy of all representations made to the CRR by members of the public/stakeholders about rail safety issues or concerns during 2021.	Grant	13/04/2022
30/11/2021	FOI211130	Member of the Public	The full and current "Letter of Acceptance" and/or "Letter of Approval" issued to Irish Rail with respect of the "8100 DART fleet" following its refurbishment. Correspondence since 1 Jan 2018 between Irish Rail / CRR with respect of the potential extension of the 40 year life limit set down in the "Letter of Acceptance" and/or "Letter of Approval" of the "8100 DART fleet".	Part-granted	21/12/2021
05/11/2021	FOI211105	Member of the Public	I would like to make a request for information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. I am contacting you at Commission for Railway Regulation to request payment data. I am requesting data about payments made by Commission for Railway Regulation to external suppliers for purchases of goods and services between 2020-01-01 and 2020-12-31.	Granted	01/12/2021
03/07/2020	FOI200703	Journalist	Under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, I wish to request a copy of: a) CRR's audit on Transdev's Management of Change b) CRR's audit on Transdev's Management of Risk which were both completed in 2019.	Part granted	22/07/2020
13/02/2020	FOI200213	Solicitor	We note that you have a small number of files on record relating to inspections of Tara Street station undertaken in 201 0, 201 3 and 2015, plus some documents which were requested from Iarnród Eireann after the 17th February 2013.	Part granted	15/05/2020
14/02/2020	FOI200214	Journalist	All minutes of board meetings held during 2019 - If you do not have a board, the board-equivalent body will suffice, ie, governing authority, management committee.	Granted	02/03/2020
09/05/2019	FOI190509	Member of the public	Request the reason for the destruction of trees near the railway track at The Downs, Mullingar, Westmeath carried out on 19th July 2019.	Request withdrawn	16/12/2019
09/05/2019	FOI190509	Member of the public	Records relating to requestor and Metro north.	Request withdrawn	15/05/2019
27/07/2018	FOI180727	Solicitor	Report of accident at level crossing XA043 at or near Meelehan’s property at Tullamore, County Offaly on the 28^th day of June 2018 involving train unit number TS16.	Record does not exist	27/08/2018
25/05/2018	FOI180525	Journalist	All safety audits and inspections (including post-incident inspections) completed by the CRR in 2017 and to date in 2018 in which any enforcement action was directed.	Granted	19/06/2018
27/07/2018	FOI180727	Solicitor	Report of accident at level crossing XA043 at or near Meelehan’s property at Tullamore, County Offaly on the 28^th day of June 2018 involving train unit number TS16.	Record does not exist	27/08/2018
04/04/2018	FOI180404	Journalist	Correspondence between the CRR and Transdev which relates to safety concerns raised by the Commission and/or any safety reports, as well as any memos/briefings from the quarterly meetings between the agency and the commission.	Granted	09/05/2018
03/04/2017	FOI170403	Journalist	All correspondence and communications, between the CRR and the chairman of Iarnród Éireann on the subject of the company's working relationship with the CRR	Granted	04/05/2017
11/05/2015	FOI150511	Journalist	All records created since January 1st, 2010 which mention the implications for rail safety caused by staff shortages.	Records do not exist	10/06/2015

Further Information

Further information in relation to FOI is available from the following: