Freedom of Information

NPHDB Freedom Of Information (FOI)

NPHDB is subject to the FOI Act 2014.

Freedom of Information requests for Children’s Health Ireland should be directed to valerie.kavanagh@nchg.ie 

Before you decide to make a request for information under FOI from the NPHDB, why not explore our website?  The information you seek may already be available.

All Freedom of Information requests must be submitted on the attached application form.

Please click here to access the application form FOI Request Form

Contact Details:

A Freedom of Information Form can be submitted to NPHDB by e-mail to foi@nph.ie or by post to;

Attn: Freedom of Information Officer

National Paediatric Hospital Development Board 

Block A, Herberton,

St James’s Walk, Rialto,

Dublin 8

 If you have any enquiries or questions in relation to Freedom of Information relating to the NPHDB you can contact our Freedom of Information Officer on 01 556 4538

Information We Hold

The NPHDB holds information relating to the design, building and equipping of the new children’s hospital development.

Fees

There is no longer an application fee when making an initial FOI request.

Internal Review Fees

A standard application fee of €30 must accompany an application for internal review under section 14 of the Act.

A reduced fee of €10 applies if the person bringing the application is a medical card holder or a dependent of a medical card holder.

The following internal review applications are free of charge:

  1. An application in relation to a decision concerning records containing only personal information related to the applicant.
  2. An application in relation to a decision under section 9 (right of amendment of records relating to personal information).
  3. An application in relation to a decision under section 10 (right of person to information regarding acts of public bodies affecting the person).
  4. An application in relation to a decision to charge a fee or deposit, or a fee or deposit of a particular amount.
  5. An appeal of a decision which is deemed to be refused because the original request was not replied to within the required time limits.

Review by Information Commissioner

A standard application fee of €50 must accompany applications to the Information Commissioner for review of decisions made by public bodies under section 34 of the Act.

A reduced fee of €15 applies if

  1. The person bringing the application is a medical card holder or a dependent of a medical card holder or
  2. The person is specified in section 38 (2) i.e. a third party with the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner where a public body decides to release their information on public interest grounds.

The following applications to the Information Commissioner do not require an application fee:

  1. An application concerning records containing only personal information related to the applicant.
  2. An application in relation to a decision under section 9 (right of amendment of records relating to personal information).
  3. An application in relation to a decision under section 18 (right of person to information regarding acts of public bodies affecting the person).
  4. An appeal of an internal review decision which is deemed to be refused because that decision was not made within the required time limits.

Search and retrieval and photocopying fees

Fees may be charged, for the searching for, retrieval of and copying of records, as follows:

  • There is a minimum threshold of €101, below which there is no charge. Where fees amount to €101 and upward, full charges apply.
  • There is, however, a cap of €500 on such fees except in certain circumstances.
  • There is a further upper limit (Overall Ceiling Limit) of €700, above which the FOI Body may refuse to process the request unless the scope of the request is refined, to bring the total cost of the processing under the €700 limit.

Section 27 of the FOI Act sets out the rules for applying search and retrieval fees. Fees are currently set as follows in accordance with Statutory Instruments No. 531 of 2014

You can contact the Freedom of Information Unit at foi@nph.ie or (01) 556 4538.

Useful Links

Establishment of National Paediatric Hospital Development Board

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (the “NPHDB”) was established by the Minister for Health & Children by Statutory Instrument SI 246 of 2007 on 23rd May, 2007.

The NPHDB is responsible for planning, designing, building, equipping and furnishing a new children’s hospital in accordance with the high-level framework brief which was commissioned by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The brief includes advice on the preferred national network of paediatric care, on the core services to be delivered at the new children’s hospital, and on the additional range of services to be provided outside of the main hospital. This includes an assessment of the range of services to be provided through the Satellites Centres, and the preferred location(s) for these services, taking account of international best practice in the planning of children’s hospital services.

NPHDB established its FOI Body in April 2015 in order to comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Roles, Responsibilities and Functions

NPHDB Executive

  • Responsible for assigning responsibility to FOI office
  • Promoting objectives of FOI
  • Ensuring structures and training is in place
  • Have a policy on record management
  • Balance core work with FOI responsibility

Freedom of Information Officer

  • Gatekeeper for the NPHDB’s FOI requests
  • Conduit to requester and decision-maker
  • Focal point for advice/guidance with organisation
  • Primary contact point with CPU
  • Proactively work with requesters
  • Liaise actively with decision makers
  • Participate in FOI Networks
  • Have an in-depth knowledge of the FOI Act 2014
  • Prepare relevant documents required for FOI

Decision Maker

  • Have a good knowledge of legislation
  • Work Proactive with FOI Officer
  • Adhere to legislative timeframes
  • Prepare a schedule of relevant records

Internal Reviewer

  • Review decisions and affirm/vary/annul
  • Consider cases where a review has been requested
  • Adhere to legislative deadlines
  • Process review independently
  • Liaise with FOI Officer
  • Submit decision to FOI Officer for releaseDocumentation held by NPHDB includes:

Classes of Documentation

  • All records relating to the design of the New Children’s Hospital on the St. James’s Campus.
  • Limited records relating to the design of the New Children’s Hospital on the Mater Site.
  • Classes of record include but is not limited to:
  • Letters
  • E-Mails
  • Reports
  • Minutes of Meetings
  • Drawings
  • Tender Documents

Membership of the NPHDB

Under the terms of the Statutory Instrument, the Minister for Health may appoint thirteen members to the Board – a Chairperson and twelve ordinary members

Corporate Plans/Strategies – Not applicable

Annual Report – NPHDB Annual Reports can be found on the Publications section of the website.

NPHDB Board