FOI - Non resident

Seanachai

Can a non-resident Irish citizen submit an FOI here? It's for blacked out paragraphs on a planning objection.

L1011

Content redacted in a planning objection is not going to be available under FOI

Seanachai

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122005774#Comment_122005774

Not even to the applicant?

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122008830#Comment_122008830

Anything revealed under the FoI legislation can end up in the public domain — there's no basis for an FoI disclosure to someone on the basis that "this goes no further". Hence, there aren't special categories of applicant with special rights under the FoI legislation because they have a special interest in the matter being enquired about. You apply as a member of the public, and the exemptions that allow them to refuse disclosure are all framed on the basis that disclosure would be to a member of the public, who willl be free to share any disclosure with any other member of the public.

Seanachai

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122008869#Comment_122008869

I've never made a planning application myself but my brother recently got an objection and two entire paragraphs are blacked out. I can understand sections being blacked out for the public website but is it the case that he's not allowed to see the original objection?

brian_t

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122009971#Comment_122009971

Did he go into the Planning Office and view the hard copy of his planning application file.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122009971#Comment_122009971

I don't know what the practice about this is, but my first step would be to ask the department that supplied the copy of the objection to him what kind of material has been withheld, and why.

Victor

Sometimes, people make comments in planning observations that have no relevance to the making of a planning decision. That is likely why some sections were redacted.

Personal details, whether contact details or (say) medical history are also likely to be redacted in the electronic copies online, but not necessarily to the paper copies at the public desk in the council offices or the planner's copy of the original documents.