Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

Laois County Council publishes schemes to outline their commitment to make information available to the public outside of information provided under Freedom of Information law. This includes information about the local authority structure and its management, the services it provides, decisions and financial information.

Publication Scheme

Laois County Council has prepared and published a Publication Scheme concerning the information of the Council in conformity with the Model and Guidelines made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under Section 8 (7) of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014. 

The Scheme comes into effect on the 14th April 2016. 

Purpose of the scheme 

The Scheme is designed to facilitate the provision of information to the greatest extent possible, except for information exempted under the Act and in preparing, reviewing or revising a Publication Scheme; an FOI body shall have regard to the public interest in: 

  1. Allowing public access to information held by the FOI body 
  2. The publication of reasons for decisions made by the FOI body; and 
  3. Publishing information of relevance or interest to the general public in relation to its activities and functions generally. 

Scheme format and access

The Scheme is web based with links from it to information under the following headings, which will be updated as provided for under the Act.  A hard copy will be available for viewing by appointment. 

Information to be contained in the publication scheme 

Information will be provided under the following headings: 

  1. Information about the FOI Body 
  2. Services Provided or to be provided to the Public 
  3. Decision Making process for major policy proposals 
  4. Financial Information 
  5. Procurement 
  6. FOI Disclosure Log and Other Information to be Published Routinely 

Within each of these the following information will be available. 

1. Information about the FOI body 

Who we are and what we do; Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts 

In this section FOI Bodies should provide details of: 

  • Establishment of organisation
  • Roles, responsibilities and functions 
  • Governance/Management arrangements 
  • Corporate Plans and Strategies 
  • Annual Report
  • Organisation and Pay/Grading Structures
  • Locations and contact details for the organisation
  • Links to agencies/other bodies under the FOI body’s remit
  • Details of Service Level Agreements/Memoranda of Understanding, if any
  • Customer Charters
  • Codes of Practice or Guidelines 

2. Services provided or to be provided to the public 

The Services we offer: Details of functions and services that the organisation provides and the decision making process 

In this section FOI bodies provide details of: 

  • Services provided for public including administration of an enactment/scheme (e.g. grants) 
  • How such services can be accessed 
  • How much such services cost to access, if any 
  • Administration of such services 
  • Review or appeal rights relating to such services 
  • Research projects undertaken in respect of these functions/services  

Corporate affairs 

  1. Council meetings 
  2. Register of Electors 
  3. Freedom of Information
  4. Minutes & Agendas of Council Meetings
  5. Civic Honours
  6. Publications 
  7. Corporate Plan
  8. Service Indicators
  9. Data Protection

Housing 

  1. Social housing
  2. Buy a house
  3. Rental accommodation Scheme
  4. Estate Management
  5. House Improvement and Repairs
  6. Traveller accommodation
  7. Voluntary Housing 

Roads 

  1. Traffic and Parking
  2. Roadworks and Closures
  3. Road Safety
  4. Community Schemes
  5. Public lighting
  6. Road opening licence

Water Services 

  1. Water Quality
  2. Rural Water
  3. Well Grants

Planning 

  1. Planning Online
  2. Planning for General Public
  3. Planning for Business
  4. Development Plans
  5. Conservation
  6. Building Regulations
  7. Planning publications

Community 

  1. Public Participation Network
  2. Laois Comhairle na nOg
  3. Joint Policing Committee
  4. Community & voluntary awards

Environment 

  1. Environmental Awareness
  2. Environmental Protection
  3. Dangerous Structures
  4. Fire and Rescue
  5. Litter Management
  6. Waste

Finance 

  1. Accounts payable 
  2. Motor Tax
  3. Internal Audit Committee 
  4. Cash Office 
  5. Finance Publications 
  6. Procurement 

Heritage 

  1. News and Events
  2. Raising Awareness
  3. Archaeology
  4. Architecture
  5. Cultural Heritage
  6. Heritage Plans
  7. History of Laois
  8. Heritage Publications

Libraries 

  1. Branch Libraries
  2. Joining the library
  3. Library events & activities
  4. Laois Library Catalogue
  5. Renew books online
  6. Local Research
  7. Archived Library Activities

Arts 

  1. News
  2. Art
  3. Drama
  4. Literature and Publications
  5. Festivals

Tourism 

  1. Laois Tourism   

Sports and leisure 

  1. News
  2. Activities & Workshops
  3. Swimming Pools
  4. Laois Water Safety
  5. Playgrounds
  6. Laois Sports Partnership

Human resources 

  1. Vacancies
  2. Recruitment & Training

Business and economic development 

  1. Laois Enterprise Office
  2. Planning for Business
  3. Support and advice
  4. Business Incentive Schemes

3. Decision making process for major policy proposals 

How we make decisions on policies: Decision Making processes and records of decisions 

In this section FOI bodies provide details of: 

  • Major policy proposals including any public consultation exercises 
  • Local Economic & Community Plan (Laois LECP 2016-2021) 
  • Background information relating to major policy proposals and decisions 
  • Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) 
  • Reports on the operation of public services by the FOI body 
  • Expenditure reviews, Policy assessments 

4. Financial information 

What we spend:  Financial information relating to income and expenditure 

FOI bodies should provide the following information in this section: 

  • Financial statements 
  • Annual Budgets
  • Plans for major Capital Expenditure 
  • Payments or Purchase Orders for goods and services 
  • Governance Board Member remuneration 
  • Funding/Sponsorship of non-public bodies 

5. Procurement 

How we spend: Information relating to how we procure goods and services 

FOI bodies should provide the following details in this section: 

  • Procurement Policies 
  • Corporate Procurement Plan 2021-2023
  • A link to all current tender competitions on the eTenders website
  • Public contracts awarded including contract type, contractor, value, award date, duration and brief description (tabular format) over €25k for other contracts 

2024

2023

6. FOI disclosure log and other information to be published routinely 

Other information: FOI bodies should publish the type of information listed below as appropriate, in addition to any other information that would provide information to the public. For example:- 

  • Disclosure Log (Currently being updated) 
  • Reports 
  • Commercial publications and relative charges 
  • Information held by the body which is sought regularly 

Further information

The Freedom of Information Officer, can be contacted on 057 866 4095 or by e-mailing foi@laoiscoco.ie