Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (NI)

The complainant has requested DAERA to disclose all records and correspondence relating to the environmental degradation of land at Drumgoland, Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh. DAERA refused to disclose the requested information citing regulations 12(4)(a), 12(5)(b), (d) and (e) and 13 of the EIR. The Commissioner’s decision is that DAERA does not hold some of the requested information and therefore regulation 12(4)(a) of the EIR applies to this element of the request. For the information it does hold, the Commissioner is satisfied that regulation 12(5)(b) of the EIR applies and the public interest rests in maintaining the exception. The Commissioner does not require any further action to be taken.