Freedom of information

The PHA is committed to being open and transparent in the conduct of all its business. We publish a great deal of information on our website already; however there may be issues on which you would like further information. This part of our website is dedicated to helping you find out more about how the PHA works, how we spend public money, and how and why we make decisions.

Privacy notice

Click here for the PHA's privacy notice.

Click here for the National Fraud Initiative's Privacy Notice

Publications scheme

Section 19 of The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 requires the PHA to adopt and maintain a publications scheme. The purpose of such a scheme is to facilitate greater public access by ensuring that more information is made routinely available. The Information Commissioner, who monitors compliance with the FOI Act, has issued a model publications scheme and a definition document for Northern Ireland non-departmental public bodies which the PHA has formally adopted. 


We provide information under the seven categories recommended by the Information Commissioner. This can be found here:

  1. Who we are and what we do
  2. What and how we spend
  3. What are our priorities and how we are doing
  4. How we make decisions
  5. Policies and procedures
  6. Lists and registers
  7. Services we offer

Making a freedom of information request

If you want information which is not available through the PHA website or otherwise through our publication scheme, you are free to make a FOI request.

Please send your request in writing to:

Information governance manager
Public Health Agency
12-22 Linenhall Street
Belfast BT2 8BS
Email: foi.pha@hscni.net

By law the PHA are obliged to respond to your request within 20 working days. If you make a request and are not satisfied with the way in which we deal with it, you may ask us to conduct an internal review.

If you remain dissatisfied at the conclusion of an internal review, you may complain to the Information Commissioner.

The contact details for the Northern Ireland Information Commissioner are:

Northern Ireland ICO
51 Adelaide Street
Belfast, BT2 8FE
Tel: 028 9026 9380
Fax: 028 9026 9388
Email: ni@ico.gsi.gov.uk

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