Ken Foxe

Out now – my new book, Shining a Light: Information Access in Ireland. A practical, no-nonsense guide to getting records from public bodies in Ireland using FOI and other information access tools, based on 20+ years of using them. Available here: www.kenfoxe.com #FOI #Journalism #Ireland

The HSE overpaid its staff by more than €30 million over the course of three years. A total of 3,242 staff were in receipt of overpayments last year, equivalent to an average of almost €3,000 per person. www.thestory.ie/2026/10/20/o... #ireland #health #foia

Report on National Just Transition Fund for the Midlands found just one-sixth of the hoped-for jobs materialised. Projects had been expected to create up to 1,094 direct full and part-time jobs. However, just 183 posts resulted. www.thestory.ie/2026/10/16/e...

Against a backdrop of rising deaths on the roads, Minister Sean Canney suggested name change for the Road Safety Authority ... ... to the Road Safety Agency. He said the old name had led to "unfair criticism". The proposal was later dropped. www.thestory.ie/2026/10/13/m... #ireland #transport

An umbrella concealing a sword, a war hammer, and a gauntlet with a hidden blade were among items intercepted by Revenue. Customs also seized imports of ‘Bug-a-Salt’ guns which kill insects by blasting them with table salt. www.thestory.ie/2026/10/09/r... #ireland #revenue #foia

SIPO granted ‘cooling-off’ waivers to nearly every former minister, special adviser and senior public servant that applied. Names & details are kept confidential by SIPO. Information Commissioner has also deemed them exempt from release under FOI. www.thestory.ie/2026/10/07/s... #ireland #foia

A great way to support my information access guide Shining a Light is to ask your local library to stock it. Would especially love to see it on shelves at every Irish college and university as it will give students research skills they’ll have for life. Available from: www.kenfoxe.com

Sometimes a public body will look to make you pay search and retrieval fees for accessing information under FOI. You can appeal though – and it won’t cost you a thing. Find out how it works in my information access book Shining a Light, available at: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

Leinster House had to chase up a debt of almost €31,000 from a retired politician or their estate, part of more than €100,000 owed in overpayments at the end of 2025. Former TDs and Senators were on the hook for almost €55,000 paid out in error. www.thestory.ie/2026/09/25/o...

AI system for transcribing court hearings was tested on recordings from across Ireland to see whether strong accents and 'localisms' might leave things lost in translation. During testing, it turned out audio quality was a much bigger challenge: www.thestory.ie/2026/09/23/c...

My book Shining a Light isn’t just for individuals using FOI. It’s also a handy resource for libraries, universities or training organisations that offer advice on how to figure out Ireland’s information access system. Small discounts available for bulk orders. Details here: www.kenfoxe.com

Officials said enhanced pension for Limerick's directly elected mayor would end up costing an additional €320,000 for a single term. Dept of Public Expenditure said permitting faster-accruing benefits for John Moran could set risky precedent. www.thestory.ie/2026/09/18/o...

My information access handbook Shining a Light is back (just about!) in the Amazon charts for 'Civil Rights and Citizenship' as college returns. Signed print editions available on my website, while the Kindle edition is just €9.99: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #media #journalism #foia

Fire inspectors found a catalogue of safety issues in emergency homeless accommodation, including rooms repurposed as bedrooms without approval, inadequate escape routes and faulty fire doors. Records released following an FOI appeal by @righttoknow.bsky.social www.thestory.ie/2026/09/15/e...

The final wind-down of NAMA left a bill of almost €8 million in termination payments for staff this year. New figures show that 54 employees were eligible for payments totalling €7.96 million, an average cost of around €147,000 per employee. www.thestory.ie/2026/09/11/r...

Heading back to college to study or teach journalism, media, law, or politics? Then, my book may be exactly what you’re looking for! It’s an easy-to-read guide on how to access records from Irish public bodies using FOI and other tools. Print and digital editions available at: www.kenfoxe.com

Traffic to Fáilte Ireland's flagship website fell by 21 percent last year. The tourism promotion agency believed it was likely because holiday makers were instead using AI for research. www.thestory.ie/2026/09/08/t... #ireland #tourism #travel #ai

A public body can refuse an FOI request if the record is already in the public domain. But not when they look like this. Find out more about how you can access unredacted copies in my book Shining a Light. Print and digital editions available at: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #foia

For students of journalism, law, politics or media, Freedom of Information is a great skill to learn. For news reporting, it will generate stories. And for your research, it will provide insight. My book Shining a Light explains exactly how to use it: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

A quick reminder that the Kindle edition of Shining a Light, my book on information access in Ireland, is available on Amazon for around €10.50. Signed print copies are still available directly through my website. Links for both at: kenfoxe.com

Limerick's directly elected mayor John Moran asked for an enhanced fast-accrual pension that would build up as quickly as that of a junior minister. Dept of Public Expenditure rejected proposal and said standard pension rules would apply. www.thestory.ie/2026/09/01/l... #ireland #limerick #foia

RTÉ voluntary exit scheme failed to deliver enough departures as analysis said it was “restrictive” and left little time for staff to make up their minds. Latest set of FOI documents available at: www.thestory.ie/2026/08/28/r...

If you’re teaching a course in journalism, media, communications, law or public policy this year, my new book might be one to include on your reading list. Shining a Light will help students figure out how information access in Ireland works. Purchase details are available here: www.kenfoxe.com

Complaints from residents of IPAS centres included assaults by staff, pest infestations, intimidation, poor living conditions and concerns over food. Latest set of FOI records from Right to Know available at: www.thestory.ie/2026/08/25/c... #ireland #refugee #foia #transparency

Mould, damp, pest issues & broken appliances discovered during inspections of homeless accommodation. One report said: "Mould in sitting room, window in sitting room hinge broken, mould in bathroom, shower head keeps falling down, freezer not working." www.thestory.ie/2026/08/20/i...

When it comes to FOI, not all public bodies are created equally. An Garda Síochána only has to release records on HR, finance & procurement. The DPC is only covered for “general administration.” Find out how it all works in my book Shining a Light: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

Dublin City Council refused to take over Defence Forces properties saying it could not afford to refurbish derelict houses and had legal concerns over tenancy arrangements. Latest set of FOI records available at: www.thestory.ie/2026/08/18/d... #ireland #housing #dereliction

Risk assessments warn asylum staff can suffer psychological harm from traumatic accounts and graphic evidence from international protection applicants. Latest set of records from Right to Know available at: www.thestory.ie/2026/08/14/r... #ireland #immigration #justice #foia

Ireland’s semi-state sector is a black hole when it comes to FOI. It doesn’t apply to the likes of Coillte, Bord na Móna or daa. You can use the Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) Regulations instead. My book Shining a Light explains how: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

Government paper said large companies employing thousands of people had plotted a scheme with financial advisers to push staff into pension schemes that would yield very little in return (underline is mine). Our latest set of FOI records available at: www.thestory.ie/2026/08/12/l...

An Garda Síochána failed to provide auditors with approval records for overtime payments despite repeated requests for documents. Review of €201m annual overtime bill found supporting paperwork unavailable in 45 of 67 cases selected for testing. www.thestory.ie/2026/08/07/a... #ireland #police

One thing to know when making an FOI request – you never have to explain why. Your motivation is irrelevant. You don’t have to explain how you plan to use the records either. Lots more information access advice in my book, Shining a Light, available at: www.kenfoxe.com #journalism #media #ireland

Overcrowding in jails was so extreme that the Irish Prison Service planned hostage-negotiation training and considered using courthouse cells in the event of serious riots. Response group was told “operational tensions are severe.” www.thestory.ie/2026/08/05/h...

When you see redaction like this in records, you can appeal. Names of staff of public bodies aren't exempt from release under FOI. My book Shining a Light explains exactly how to have decisions like this overturned: Available in print and digital at: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

Archivists forced to restart work on institutional abuse files as departments stalled transfers over legal and data protection concerns. Our latest set of FOI records available at: www.thestory.ie/2026/07/31/a... #ireland #history #archive #foia

If you’re looking for some light summer reading, then this probably won’t be for you! But for anybody working in media, politics, PR or law, my guide to information access Shining a Light might be an ideal choice. Print and digital copies available at: www.kenfoxe.com #journalism #ireland #foia

Faulty equipment, malfunctioning machinery, electrical problems, and medical radiation incidents were among almost 950 reports logged across the health service in the past two years. Our latest set of FOI records: www.thestory.ie/2026/07/16/n...

Ambulance crews reported delays after sat-nav problems sent them to wrong addresses, cul-de-sacs, and to the wrong side of a river from emergency caller. Latest set of records released under FOI: www.thestory.ie/2026/07/10/a...

A brief note to say that public bodies, libraries, universities, and other organisations can buy Shining a Light by invoice or purchase order. There are also discounts available for small bulk orders. Details on print, Kindle, and direct sales are at: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

Department sought €50,000 annual fee for chair of An Coimisiún Pleanála saying nobody was willing to take on role at a lower rate. Our latest set of records released under FOI: www.thestory.ie/2026/07/08/d...

A quick reminder that the Kindle edition of Shining a Light, my book on information access in Ireland, is available on Amazon for around €10.50. I’m also onto my second printing, with signed copies still available directly. Links for both available at: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #media

Release of information on air travel by President of Ireland would be a risk to public security, Commissioner for Environmental Information says. Decision closes off one of the last small windows of transparency into the Office of the President. www.thestory.ie/2026/07/03/r... #ireland #politics

An Garda Síochána overpaid officers and civilian staff to the tune of €4.25 million in salary payments over the past three years. At the end of last year, the balance still outstanding from overpayments had risen to more than €2.8 million. www.thestory.ie/2026/07/01/m...

Freedom of Information is best when used for finding out: - Why a decision was made. - How much something cost. - What was being said behind the scenes. My book Shining a Light teaches you how to craft requests to help you get the answers you need. www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #foia

A government department objected to allocating up to 190 extra staff to the energy and water regulator, saying it would create more red tape and make it even harder to deliver infrastructure. Our latest set of FOI records: www.thestory.ie/2026/06/26/g... #ireland #infrastructure #foia

RTÉ recorded nearly three dozen incidents last year involving threatening phone calls, stalking, assault and harassment of staff. Internal report said there had been 34 cases of “third-party violence” recorded during first nine months of 2025. www.thestory.ie/2026/06/24/r... #ireland #journalism

Seven weeks after launch, Shining a Light is still hanging on in Amazon.ie’s Civil Rights & Citizenship bestsellers. If you bought it on Amazon and found it useful, a short review would be appreciated. Even a few words make a big difference: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #journalism #foia

Dublin City Council said €6m guesthouse purchase would pay for itself within seven years because of sky-high cost of providing homeless accommodation. Appraisal report said it would be a “permanent public asset” and reduce dependency on private sector. www.thestory.ie/2026/06/19/d...

Never expected to reach this stage so soon but my new book on information access, Shining a Light, has gone to a second printing. Thanks again to everyone who bought it – journalists and campaigners, politicians and the public. Book available in print & digital at: www.kenfoxe.com #ireland #foia