Freedom of Information
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Access to Information
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is designed to establish a new culture of
openness and transparency in public administration. As a means of promoting
openness, the Act requires each public authority to take proactive steps to put
its information into the public domain by means of a publication scheme.
We publish a great deal of information about what we do on this website which
you can access by using the search facility clearly marked on our home page
and also by browsing the Publications A-Z. However there may be other issues
about which you would like further information and in this part of our website
we explain how you can get such information.
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Publication Scheme
In order to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 public sector
organisations such as ours have to routinely publish information whenever
possible.
The Information Commissioner, who is responsible for monitoring and
enforcing compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000, has drawn
up what is called a Model Publication Scheme for all public sector organisations
which we have decided to adopt and formally commit to. The Commissioner
has also published a ‘Definition Document for Northern Ireland Non Departmental
Public Bodies’ which sets out in some detail what his minimum expectations
are as far as we are concerned. Both these documents and further information
can be found at the Commissioners website www.ico.gov.uk.
We have reviewed the information we routinely put into the public domain to ensure
we are compliant with the Definition document. You will be able to see where
we don’t hold relevant information or where for some reason we have decided not
to routinely disclose information identified in the Definition document by referring
to our Publication Scheme Guidance Definition.
Most of the information we make routinely available can be accessed through
our website by using the search facility. Such information is continually updated.
If you cannot find information through the search engine and we have indicated in
the definition document that the information is routinely available this may be
because the information cannot be loaded onto our website. In such circumstances
please refer to our Publication Guide for relevant contact details and ask for the
information to be provided to you.
Accessing information which is not included in the Publication Scheme
As an open and transparent organisation we are committed to routinely publishing
as much information as possible; however if you want information which is not on
our website or otherwise available through our guide to information you may ask
us for it in accordance with further provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
and of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
