Dublin Port Company has been told it must release documents it holds on discussions over payment of the vacant site levy to Dublin City Council.
Using Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations, Right to Know had sought copies of all correspondence between the port operator and the local authority about the levy, which is intended to bring idle land into use for housing.
Dublin Port Company said the records were not environmental but the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI) has ruled in our favour.
It’s a useful decision for anybody who is planning to make requests for information around planning, development land, dereliction, or land hoarding.
It also highlights again the usefulness of the AIE Regulations in accessing information from public bodies that are exempt from the FOI Act.
This includes most of the semi-state agencies like Coillte, Bord na Móna, the DAA, and the Irish Aviation Authority.
You can find a full list of them at this link.