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Quality & Governance

Corporate Governance & Direction

Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance comprises the systems, policies and procedures by which organisations are directed, controlled and managed to ensure accountability, fairness and transparency in the organisation’s relationship with stakeholders. In the context of St. Catherine’s Association Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), stakeholders include the individuals availing of services, their families, employees, the Health Service Executive as the organisation’s primary funder, regulatory bodies such as the Charities Regulator, Health & Safety Authority, Health Information and Quality Authority and the general public.

The Board of Directors of St. Catherine’s Association CLG are accountable for the proper governance and oversight of the organisation. Board Members and employees should be, at a minimum, adhering to the six principles, core standards and additional standards that reflect best practice as set out in the Charities Governance Code (Charities Regulator 2018), and reflected in the SCA Code of Governance, in meeting their responsibility to ensure that all activities, meet the highest standards of corporate governance.  The Charities Governance Code can be accessed here.

Board of Directors
Executive Team

Board of Directors

The Board ensures that the vision, mission and core values of St. Catherine’s Association as expressed in its constitutional documents are upheld and realised in practice through the adoption and implementation of strategic plans and through regular oversight of their implementation.
The Board is responsible for exercising all the powers of the organisation, other than those reserved to its members, and has collective responsibility for all of its operations. As an organisation with professional staff, where Directors have no role in the day-to-day running of the company, the Board of St. Catherine’s Association operates by delegating responsibility for the conduct of its business to a CEO and in turn through respective team members.

Brendan Whelan

Chairman

Sean Reynolds

Company Secretary

Kathy Hoctor

Vice Chair

Peggy Byrne

Director

Evelyn Cawley

Director

Annette Kinne

Director

Padraig Rushe

Director

Barbara Smyth

Director
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Brendan Whelan

Chairman
Brendan is CEO of the Social Finance Foundation. He was formerly a Senior Executive with Bank of Ireland and is a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland. He has been involved with the Special Olympics as a parent, volunteer, sponsor and Chairman; his daughter has skied for Ireland in four SO World Winter Games. He is a graduate in Commerce from UCD and Management Studies at Stanford University. His grandson Alex has DS and avails of services in SCA. He is also a Director on the Board of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
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Sean Reynolds

Company Secretary
Sean Reynolds is a Senior Banking Consultant, who brings with him over thirty years’ experience working within the Financial Services sector. In addition to this, Sean has extensive leadership experience as well as an excellent track record in developing high-performance work teams. He is a graduate from the University of Limerick.
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Kathy Hoctor

Vice Chair
Kathy Hoctor joined the board of St. Catherine's after a thirty-four-year long career within the Irish Prison Service, where she worked at all levels from Officer all the way up to Governor of Operations. Kathy holds a degree in organisational Change and Transformation from UCD. She began working with St Catherine’s after retiring from public service.
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Peggy Byrne

Director
Peggy Byrne is a Registered Nurse (RN) as well as an Occupational Health Nurse. Peggy came to join the St. Catherine's Board of Directors following a nursing career. Peggy offers invaluable experience from the front lines of healthcare work. She is committed to supporting the needs of children and adults with Intellectual and other disabilities in the community.
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Evelyn Cawley

Director
Evelyn is strongly committed to public service delivery. She has worked across diverse sectors at both policy and operational level, including the mental health and disability sector. A number of her recommendations for facilitating access to mental health services were implemented after her review of various community services in Wicklow for the HSE. Evelyn serves on the Speech & Language Therapists Registration Board.
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Annette Kinne

Director
Annette Kinne serves as a parent representative on St. Catherine's Board of Directors. Her son Alexander (now seventeen) first came to St. Catherine’s at seven months old via Early Services. Annette brings a wealth of business experience as a management & communications consultant to Blue Chip companies as well as the Not-for-Profit sector in Ireland.
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Padraig Rushe

Director
Padraig Rushe is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors Ireland & UK, and serves on the boards of several private companies. A career banker of over forty years, he brings a wealth of banking, finance and risk management experience. He was a member of the Government’s IFSC Clearing House Group and is a Director and former Chair of The IFSC Inner City Trust. Padraig also serves as Chair of the Board of St Catherine's Special School Board of Management on behalf of the patron.
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Barbara Smyth

Director
Barbara Smyth is a qualified FCCA accountant with 30 years experience across a wide range of business types and sizes and currently serves on a number of private boards. She brings financial rigour and discipline while applying a practical hands-on approach to all situations and tasks. In 2001 she joined one of Ireland’s premier tourist attractions initially as Financial Accountant, before becoming Financial Controller and later Finance Director, positions she held for over a decade and where she is currently a non-executive director. Barbara currently works supporting two small business owners with their day to day accounting requirements and business goals and is committed to her directorial duties.

Oversight and Committee Structure

The Board of Directors is also responsible for overseeing the work of the CEO and Senior Management Team, ensuring that systems of internal controls are in place (including financial controls), and that risk is managed, and for overseeing the remuneration of the employees of the organisation.

To do this the Board of Directors is required to oversee the operation of the organisation.  As such, the Board of Directors have established committees that deal with Audit & Risk, HR Remunerations & Nominations, and Service Quality, Safety & Risk Management.

 

Audit & Risk Committee

The Audit & Risk Committee monitors and reviews all aspects of the financial performance and risk management of St Catherine’s Association CLG. The Audit & Risk Committee reviews and recommends for approval the annual operating budget for the Company. The Committee also keeps under review the management accounts including cash flow position, year-end accounts and engagement with external auditors each year. The Committee receives reports throughout the year in respect of key financial data, service developments and any associated financial
challenges or risks presenting for the Company. It also oversees the risk management policy and the processes related to identifying and managing risk for the Company and it reviews the Risk Register of the Company.

Current Membership: Padraig Rushe (Chair), Evelyn Cawley (Director), Barbara Smyth (Director) and Michael Ward (CEO)

 

HR, Remuneration & Nominations Committee

The HR, Remunerations and Nominations Committee has been established to ensure that the organisation’s Human Resources policies and practices are in line with relevant legislation, regulation, national policy and best practice. The Committee is also responsible for ensuring
that the remuneration practices of the organisation have regard to the requirements of public pay policy. The Board of Directors must satisfy itself that, where appropriate, there are plans in place for the orderly succession of appointments to the Board so as to maintain an appropriate balance of skills and experience within the Company and on the Board. The HR, Remunerations and Nominations Committee serves this function.

Current Membership: Sean Reynolds (Chair), Padraig Rushe (Director), Kathy Hoctor (Director), and Michael Ward (CEO)

 

Service Quality, Safety & Risk Management Committee

The role of the Service Quality, Safety & Risk Management Committee is to provide assurance to the Board that there are appropriate and effective systems in place to cover all aspects of service quality, safety and risk management. The Service Quality, Safety and Risk Management Committee oversee such matters and report / make recommendations to the Board thereon.

Current Membership: Evelyn Cawley (Chair), Annette Kinne (Director), Peggy Byrne (Director), and Michael Ward (CEO)

Executive Team

The CEO reports directly to the Board of Directors. He leads the Executive Team and is responsible for the management of St Catherine’s overall resources and operations. The CEO acts as the conduit between the Board of Directors, Executive Team, and all stakeholders. The CEO implements the strategy as directed by the Board and ensures that the organisation’s structure, processes, business strategies and plans meet the strategic and cultural needs of both the short and long-term objectives of the organisation.

Each member of the Executive Team provides visible support and commitment to the objectives of St Catherine’s Association at the direction of the CEO. Each Senior Manager ensures accountability for their area of service and that of their individual teams.

Michael Ward

Chief Executive Officer

Maeve O’Rourke

Executive Assistant to CEO

David O’Rourke

Head of Operations

Lorcan Claffey

Financial Controller

Siobhán Power

Human Resources Manager
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Michael Ward

Chief Executive Officer
St Catherine’s Association is under the strong leadership and guidance of Michael Ward, CEO. Michael joined St Catherine’s in 2011 as a Behaviour Support Worker on our frontline team, holding a MSc in Psychology (ABA), P. Grad Dip from Trinity College Dublin and BA in Psychology from NUI Maynooth. He also holds a MSc in Management from UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business. Michael has experience across many facets of the organisation having served as Children’s Services Manager of a designated residential centre before joining the Senior Management Team in 2015 as Quality Compliance & Training Manager where he is credited with driving significant improvements in quality and compliance across the organisation. He stepped into the role of CEO in April 2017 and has been instrumental in the development and expansion of services to include Adult Residential and Day Services and alternative Short Break service options.
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Maeve O’Rourke

Executive Assistant to CEO
Maeve came to work at St Catherine’s in 2015 bringing a wealth of experience in the field of health, education and legal sectors. Maeve has a busy role supporting the CEO and Board of Directors in day-to-day activities. She also holds the post of Deputy Designated Person / Designated Officer supporting staff with any safeguarding concerns. Maeve studied with Irish Management Institute and South East Technical University (SETU).
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David O’Rourke

Head of Operations
David joined St Catherine’s Association in 2015 as a Quality & Compliance Officer before being promoted to the role of Quality Compliance & Training Manager in 2017. Here, David has played a critical role in St Catherine’s Association compliance rating of 98.5% with regulatory requirements of the Health Act 2007, Regulations 2013. David took on the role of Head of Operations in Q1 2021 where he now holds responsibility for all key areas of operation including Residential & Respite Services, Alternative Short Breaks, Adult Day Services, retained Clinical Services and Family Liaison. David holds a BA in Psychology and an MSc in Business Management.
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Lorcan Claffey

Financial Controller
Lorcan Claffey is a Chartered Certified Accountant with 30-years experience in practice, industry and the voluntary sector. He trained and qualified with Newmarket Partnership, a boutique audit and financial management-oriented practice and became a Partner there in 1997. He was responsible for training and mentoring more than 100 trainee accountants from trainees to qualified professionals with an emphasis on accounting and management skills. As a Partner he was a registered auditor, business advisor, management consultant and expert witness. He became CFO of a US based property development and management group with annual revenues in excess of $50m in 2006 and managed its finances until 2022. He has a proven ability to make effective decisions under pressure and manage conflicting deadlines. He is adaptable to different businesses and environments through experience as an auditor, a consultant and as CFO in many different industries. Lorcan is a board member of Recovery through Art, Drama and Education CLG and of Paralympics Ireland CLG and serves as Finance Officer to both organisations. In his spare time he runs, cycles and is completing a part-time BA in History.
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Siobhán Power

Human Resources Manager
Siobhán Power, Human Resources Manager joined St Catherine’s Association in 2021 as part of the Senior Management Team. Siobhán has over twenty years’ experience in the Intellectual Disability Sector and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resources Management and a BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. Siobhán leads a strong HR team to support frontline managers in all areas of HR from recruitment to all people related issues. Siobhán oversees the overall management of the HR function and has extensive experience in coaching frontline managers, developing HR systems, improving processes and driving key HR initiatives for the improvement of all services. Siobhán has a keen interest in the wellbeing of our employees and improving the lives of the people we support.

Quality, Compliance & Safety

The Quality, Compliance and Training Department (QCT) incorporates several crucial areas that underpin the delivery of safe services by the organisation. QCT is responsible for the implementation, governance and oversight of Quality and Compliance, Health and Safety, Training and Nursing. Additionally, the QCT Manager is responsible for the oversight of all policies, procedures and guidance documents within the organisation, risk management including the maintenance of the Corporate Risk Register, safeguarding, restrictive practices and submission of all notifications to regulatory bodies including HIQA, HAS, Tusla and the National Safeguarding Team.

Linda Minchin

Quality, Compliance & Training Administrator

Adrienne O’Connor

Quality, Compliance & Training Officer

Olive Moroney

Clinical Nurse Manager

Colm Keeley

Clinical Nurse Manager

Tara O’Leary

Training & Development Officer
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Linda Minchin

Quality, Compliance & Training Administrator
Linda joined St Catherine’s Association in 2022 as part of our Quality, Compliance & Training Dept. As QCT Administrator, Linda provides administrative support to the QCT Manager & QCT Team which encompasses health & safety, training and compliance to meet regulatory requirements such as HIQA Regulation and health & safety legislation. Linda has a strong administration background and diverse skill set having worked in various business sectors. Linda has qualifications in Accountancy, Payroll and E.C.D.L, coupled with many years experience she is a valuable member of the team.
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Adrienne O’Connor

Quality, Compliance & Training Officer
Adrienne joined St Catherine’s Association in 2012 as a Social Care Worker; working in a number of SCA's respite and residential centres supporting individuals to meet their personal goals. Adrienne was a welcomed addition to the Quality, Compliance and Training Department as Quality & Compliance Officer (QCO) in 2017. Adrienne's primary role as QCO in St. Catherine's Association is to conduct provider audits in all SCA Respite and Residential Designated centres as required by HIQA Regulations. This aims to ensure our high standards are maintained in all centres. In compiling Annual Review Reports, Adrienne enjoys engaging with residents and their family / representatives to get their feedback on their lived experience of SCA services. This helps to drive person-centred care across the organisation. Adrienne completed her studies with Carlow Institute of Technology; graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies (Social Care).
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Olive Moroney

Clinical Nurse Manager
Olive joined St Catherine’s Association in 2007 as a Clinical Nurse Manager 2, supporting Children to attend their educational placement in St Catherine’s Special School. Since that time her role has extended to the oversight of the health and wellbeing of all children and adults availing of services with St. Catherine’s Association respite, residential and day services as well as St. Catherine’s Special School. In her role as Clinical Nurse Manager 3, Olive provides clinical supervision to all of the nursing team in St Catherine’s and provide in-house training to the social care work staff in Medication Management, Epilepsy, Intimate Care, Infection Control, Anaphylaxis, Enteral Feeding and other Health and wellbeing related areas. The development and review of health-related policies, and auditing also form part of Olive’s role. Olive holds postgraduate qualification in; Infection Control RCSI, Risk Management & the Law UCD and Respiratory Management WIT, Caring of a child with a life limiting condition, OLCHC.
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Colm Keeley

Clinical Nurse Manager
Colm joined St Catherine’s Association in 2006 as a staff nurse and progressed to his current role of Clinical Nurse Manager 2 in 2023. Colm’s role is to assist in the clinical and professional leadership and development of the nursing team and the day to day management of the nursing staff in the school. His role includes maintaining effective communication links with other members of the clinical team. He’s always available to provide clinical advice and support across services and to pupils and parents in St Catherine’s Special School and liaises with internal and external clinicians as appropriate to coordinate care. Auditing and the development and implementing of healthcare related policies and procedures form part of Colm’s role. Colm holds many qualifications to include, Higher Diploma in Children’s Nursing (TCD), Diploma in Adult Nursing (London) as well as certification in Caring for a Child with life limiting conditions and Clinical Auditing. He provides internal training in Epilepsy, Anaphylaxis, Enteral Feeding and Infection Control. Colm’s training in Peer Vaccination was very welcome during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Tara O’Leary

Training & Development Officer
Tara joined St Catherine’s Association in 2021 as Training and Development Officer. In this role Tara is responsible for coordinating all of the staff training needs across the organisation. This includes designing, developing and sourcing effective and efficient training programmes to meet organisational objectives and facilitating staff development programmes which maximise the potential of all staff. The role also includes analysing training needs and identifying skills gaps by liaising with line managers and staff, and responding efficiently to the training needs identified. Tara is responsible for the development and oversight of a yearly training schedule and maintaining a comprehensive training matrix for all staff within the organisation. Tara holds a BA in Politics and Public Administration, MA in Developmental Psychology, MSc in Psychology (Research) and QQI L6 Train the Trainer. Tara has worked in a variety of administrative and academic roles having previous run a Higher Diploma course in Montessori Education.

Quality and Compliance

This area of service is led by the Quality & Compliance Officer (QCO) whose primary role is to complete an Annual Review and unannounced provider audits in all SCA Respite and Residential Designated centres. Two audits are completed per year in each location as required by the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013. Each audit generates an action plan to address identified deficits and areas for improvement, these action plans are regularly reviewed and are added to following any HIQA inspections.

As part of the Annual Review process, the QCO will engage with all families/representatives of residents and all residents on an annual basis to acquire feedback on the organisation’s performance and to provide the opportunity to enable stakeholders to have their say on service provision within SCA.

The QCO works closely with the management of each centre to support, through review/revision/updating, the compliance of regulatory documents such as Statements of Purpose, Residents Guides, Contracts of Care and Registration Certificates to name but a few. In addition, the QCO prepares and distributes Restrictive Practice logbooks to each centre for use every quarter. The raw data is then reviewed and compiled to identify topline data for each location which is used within the organisation and submitted to HIQA on a quarterly basis.

Health & Safety

SCA is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all individuals supported, their families, staff and members of the public. The organisation takes account of legislative obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005; General Applications Regulations 2007 and all associated legislation; the organisation’s Safety Statement describes the management system and details of its structure and how it is resourced. In addition it provides a framework for the development of site-specific safety arrangements in all centres.

This area is led by the Environmental, Health and Safety Officer (EHSO) whose responsibilities include all health and safety matters to ensure SCA continues to provide a safe environment for all the children, adults and employees who live and work in SCA. This includes VDU assessments, pregnancy risk assessments, accident investigations and providing recommendations and learning to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all within SCA.

The EHSO is also responsible for the built environment of SCA which includes oversight of all properties, supported by a maintenance team who provide essential maintenance works. Securing servicing contracts, additional properties, quotes for refurbishment and outfitting of premises. Ensuring the organisation and all of its locations are compliant with fire, safety and building regulations and codes.

The EHSO carries out annual health and safety audits and provides support to the health and safety representatives throughout the organisation. The goal is to promote a safe and healthy culture within SCA.

Training

This area is led by the Training and Development Officer (TDO) whose main responsibility is to coordinate all of the training needs within the organisation.  This includes designing, developing and sourcing effective and efficient training programmes in line with the overall organisation objectives and regulatory requirements.  The TDO also facilitates staff development programmes that maximise the potential of all staff and enhance the service SCA provides.

The TDO also analyses training needs, identifies skills gaps by liaising with Line Managers and Staff and responding efficiently and effectively to the training needs identified.   The TDO is responsible for the development and oversight of a yearly training schedule and maintaining a comprehensive training matrix for all staff within the organisation to ensure, in as far as possible, that staff recertify within the required timelines thereby maintaining a highly skilled, informed and safe workforce.

Nursing

This area is led by the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM3) whose main responsibilities include the provision of nursing care to those we support in SCA and St. Catherine’s Special Needs School.  There are many individuals accessing SCA services and the School who have complex medical needs that require the support of medical professionals in order to facilitate participation in the service. The CNM3 is supported by a team of highly qualified, highly skilled Nurses to deliver these complex supports to medically vulnerable individuals. 

The CNM3 and Nursing team work closely with the managers of all locations to ensure resident plans include the necessary medical plans, emergency medical plans, medication support and any other specialised medical supports that are needed.  The Nursing team also provide clinical expertise to outside agencies on behalf of the residents and provide guidance to alternate pathways to access multi-disciplinary teams/supports.

The CNM3 is responsible for the review and development of policies that are medical in nature.  They develop and provide a wide portfolio of training to all staff on subjects such as Medication Management, Infection Prevention Control, Intimate Care and Epilepsy to name a few.  They also support and oversee the continuous professional development of the Nurses within SCA.

Health Information Quality Authority

Services provided by SCA are developed, planned and delivered based on the needs and goals of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The life choices and wishes of the people we support are at the core of service delivery and development. Providing services in this way ensures that the organisation is focused on delivering services to best international standards. The Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) are the Regulator that register and inspect all residential services.   The standards, themes and regulations under which all SCA residential services operate under and are inspected against can be found on the HIQA website and can be accessed here.  In addition, the results of inspections carried out on SCA Designated Centres can also be found on the HIQA website. 

Risk Management

The Board is committed to ensuring that managing risks is an integral part of the organisation’s activities and have appointed the Service Quality, Safety & Risk Management Sub-Committee to oversee Risk Management on behalf of the organisation.  In respect of Risk Management the Sub-Committee is tasked with;

  • Ensuring that a risk management policy is prepared and approved by the Board of Directors
  • Reviewing processes related to the identification, measurement, assessment and management of risk in the organisation
  • Reviewing SCA’s Corporate Risk Register on an annual basis and make recommendations to the Board for approval
  • Promoting a risk management and quality improvement culture throughout the organisation that promotes positive risk taking for the benefit of not only the organisation but the individuals that SCA supports
  • Setting the risk tolerance of the Provider for its key risk areas.

The principal risks faced by SCA are having sufficient funding to provide on-going services and ensuring sufficient resources and personnel are available to meet service requirements both safely and to a high standard.

The Internal Controls – Provider Audits, Annual Reviews, Systems of review for Service quality, safety, risk profile, etc., that support the oversight and governance of Risk Management within SCA are undertaken and managed by the QCT Department.

Safeguarding & Protection

St. Catherine’s Association CLG is committed to ensuring that all the individuals they support have the right to be safe and to live a life free from abuse.  All persons are entitled to this right, regardless of their circumstances.  It is the responsibility of SCA to ensure that all individuals that avail of services are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and to prevent abuse.

SCA, supported by its Board, and all working on behalf of SCA, has a No Tolerance approach to any form of abuse and promotes a culture which supports this ethos.

This commitment is underpinned by SCA’s adoption of the National Safeguarding of Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse Policy, its Child Protection & Welfare Policy and the principles of good practice for the protection of children & young people as outlined in “Our Duty of Care” published by the Department of Health & Children.  SCA instil the No Tolerance approach within all working on behalf of SCA from their first engagement with the organisation throughout their tenure through its policies, including Recruitment Policy, Garda Vetting, Induction, Policies, Procedures, Guidance and continuous professional development through training and learning.

The organisation has a robust Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and Designated Officer (DO) and a Deputy to support staff with any queries or concerns. The DLP / DO offers guidance and support on any safeguarding concerns brought to their attention.

Staff specific good practice and guidance is achieved through regular Supervision, staff meetings, training and learning from incidents.  All staff are subject to SCA’s Trust In Care and Dignity at Work policies that ensure that all allegations are dealt with in accordance with strict procedures.

SCA encourages a culture of openness and transparency amongst its employees that empowers them to challenge one another in their practice and actively embraces self-reflection for the betterment of the employee themselves, their team, the organisation as a whole and, ultimately, to positively impact the quality of the lives of the individuals SCA supports.

SCA actively engages in the reporting of any safeguarding and safety concerns to the relevant authorities including HIQA, the national Safeguarding Team, Tusla and the Gardai.

Anne Keenan Designated Officer

Designated Officer

Maeve O’Rourke - Deputy Designated Officer

Deputy Designated Officer

Feedback

St. Catherine’s Association actively encourages all stakeholders to provide feedback.  SCA believes the receipt of feedback serves to improve the quality of its service provision as outlined in the Management of Feedback (Comments, Compliments and Complaints) Policy.

All comments, compliments or complaints should be addressed on receipt of same where possible.

The point of contact should firstly seek a resolution locally as soon as possible.

There are several formal review methods that the organisation engages in both internally and externally.  These comprise of the following;

  • Quarterly reviews with the primary funder
  • HIQA inspections both announced and unannounced
  • Internal employee surveys
  • Internal Audits
  • Annual feedback from families/representatives of individuals who avail of SCA services and the individuals themselves as part of the Annual Review process

If you wish to provide feedback you can email feedback@stcatherines.ie

Data Protection & Freedom of Information

GDPR and Data Protection Act (2018)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) (2016/679) came into force across the European Union on 25 May 2018. It replaces the previous data protection directive which has been in force since 1995 and forms the basis of our new data protection Irish laws (Data Protection Acts 1988-2018).

Data Protection legislation

The Data Protection Acts 1988-2018 are designed to protect people’s privacy. The legislation confers rights on individuals in relation to the privacy of their personal data as well as responsibilities on those persons holding and processing such data.

Personal Data

Personal data means data relating to a person who is or can be identified either from the data itself or in conjunction with other information that is in, or is likely to come into, the possession of the department. It covers any information that relates to an identified or identifiable living individual. These data can be held on computers or in manual files. 

Freedom of Information Act (2014)

On 14 October 2014, the Freedom of Information Act, 2014 (FOI) came into effect, repealing the 1997 and 2003 Acts. The new Act introduced a number of amendments and extended the range of bodies to which the FOI legislation applies to which is now all public bodies, unless specifically exempt. It also allows for the Government to prescribe (or designate) other bodies receiving significant public funds, so that the FOI legislation applies to them also.

The old legislation continues to apply to any FOI request made before the new legislation came into effect. It also applies to any subsequent review or appeal.

Requesting Information

Your Rights

The Freedom of Information Act 2014 provides the following statutory rights:

A legal right for each person to access information held by a body to which FOI legislation applies.

A legal right for each person to have official information relating to himself/herself amended where it is incomplete, incorrect or misleading.

A legal right to obtain reasons for decisions affecting himself/herself.

Making a Request

The request may be made by email to data@stcatherines.ie or by post to Data Protection, St Catherine’s Association, EDC Building, Newcastle, Greystones, Co Wicklow, A63 R981, Ireland.

You must state that the request is being made under the Freedom of Information Act and what records you are seeking. The more detail you can provide on the records you require makes the search for them more efficient and may speed up the process for you.

You must state the manner in which access is sought, e.g. inspect the originals, obtain photocopies, hear/view audio-visual record, obtain a copy of a computer disk or other electronic device, etc.

You must supply proof of identity in the case of personal information – acceptable forms of identity include:

  • Certified copy of current valid signed Passport;
  • Certified copy of full Republic of Ireland/Northern Ireland/UK driving licence or provisional licence;
  • Certified copy of Garda Identification (ML10) form and photograph;
  • Certified copy of National Identity Card – must show photograph;

You may seek the following records:

  • Any records relating to you personally, whenever they were created. To speed up your request, it is helpful to include a to and from timeframe.
  • A record can be a paper document or information held on computer.

Application Fees

Section 27 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 provides for fees and charges.

St Catherine’s Association do not currently charge fees for basic requests for records.

However charges may be applied in circumstances where the timeframe or scope of the request is not limited within reason. Any such charges will be notified to you in advance of a search and may apply to the time spent finding and retrieving records, and for any copying costs incurred in providing the material requested. It is very unlikely that any charges will be applied in respect of personal records, except where a large number of records are involved.

If the cost of search, retrieval and copying is €100 or less, no charge is applied. If the charge exceeds €100, full fees apply. You cannot be charged more than €500.

If the estimated cost of search, retrieval and copying is more than €700 the body can refuse to process your request, unless you refine your request to bring the search, retrieval and copying fees below this limit.

Search and retrieval of records – €20 per hour

Photocopying and printing – 4 cent per sheet

Postage / delivery costs – weight dependent

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