Establishment of DIAS

The Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies is a statutory independent body established by the Institute for Advanced Studies Act 1940 which operates under the aegis of the Department of Education & Skills.

Roles, Responsibilities & Functions

The roles, responsibilities and Functions of DIAS and its constituent schools are laid out in the IAS Act, 1940 and the individual School Establishment Orders. DIAS is devoted to the pursuit of fundamental research in specialised branches of knowledge (blueskies research).    Through its three constituent schools, it pursues advanced research in celtic studies, theoretical physics and cosmic physics.   DIAS publishes books and journals in Celtic Studies and on advanced scientific subjects and it trains advanced students in the methods of original research within its field of expertise.

DIAS is funded by an annual grant from the Exchequer.  Also it generates additional income from book sales and it attracts external funding for research projects from national and international funding agencies Currently DIAS employs 67 staff (as at 31 March 2016) some of whom are working on short-term externally funded projects.  Staffing numbers, together with general terms and conditions of staff are set by the Department of Education and Skills.  Research groups within the Schools are led by Senior Professors and the Directorship of the School rotates between the serving Senior Professors on a triennial basis.

Organisation Structure

The staffing structure varies between each of the School but in general each School has a mix of permanent posts at Senior Professor, Professor and Assistant Professor level as well as temporary researchers such as Fellows and Post-Doctoral Research Assistants employed on short-term contracts.   Each School also has a small number of Research Scholars who are being trained in the methods of original research.

The Registrar, who is the chief executive officer of the Institute, acts as secretary to the Council,  accountant to the Institute, secretary to the Governing Board of each School and registrar of each Constituent School.    Organograms

Governance/Management

The general government of DIAS and the administration of its affairs are vested in the Council.  Council meets at least twice a year and more frequently if there is business to be transacted.  Each of the three constituent schools of DIAS has an independent Governing Board that is responsible for the research programme and academic staffing of its particular School.  The frequency of meetings varies but each Board meets generally two or three times a year.

Council of DIAS – 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2020

Governing Boards of the Constituent Schools – 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2020

Pay/Grading Structures

Corporate Plans & Strategies

Annual Reports

Location and Contact Information

Other Associated Bodies:     There are no bodies under the remit of DIAS

Service Level Agreements/Memorandum of Understanding

Customer Charter

Code of Conduct for Board Members

The administration of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies is based in 10 Burlington Road, Dublin 4.

Reception Tel: +353-1-6140100

The head staff are as follows:

Registrar

Cecil Keaveney 
Tel: +353-1-614-0121

Senior Administrative Officer

Mary Burke 
Tel: +353-1-614-0188

Finance Officer

Grace Forkin 
Tel: +353-1-614-0125

The text of the FOI Acts and guides to the Act are available at: http://www.foi.gov.ie

Introduction:

DIAS has prepared this Publication Scheme in conformity with the Model Publication Scheme made by the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform under Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2014.   The Scheme comes into effect on 14 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 its Publication Scheme, DIAS gives due regard to the public interest in:

(a) allowing public access to information held by DIAS

(b) the publication of reasons for decisions made by an FOI body; and

(c) publishing information of relevance or interest to the general public in relation to its activities an functions generally.

Scheme Format:

This Scheme is web based and provides links to information under the following six headings which will be updated as provided for under the Act. A hard copy will also be available from the Registrar’s Office:

1. General information about DIAS
2. Functions and Public Services provided
3. Decision Making Procedures
4. Financial Information
5. Procurement Procedures
6. Information Routinely Published and Miscellaneous

You may seek an internal review of the initial decision, which will be carried out by the Registrar of DIAS if:

Such a request for internal review must be submitted within 4 weeks of the initial decision. We must complete the review within 3 weeks. Internal review must normally be completed before an appeal may be made to the Office of the Information Commissioner. You will be notified of the outcome in writing.

Fees are payable for search and retrieval and photocopying in certain cases. Also, a fee applies for Internal Review and for Appeals to the Information Commissioner. (Details specified in Statutory Instrument No. 484/2014)

Search and retrieval costs are €20 per hour; photocopying is charged at €0.04 per sheet. Where the cost of search, retrieval and photocopying is less than €101, no fee is charged. Where the cost of search, retrieval and photocopying is greater than €500 but less than €700, a maximum of €500 applies. Where the cost of search, retrieval and photocopying is greater than €700, the body can refuse to process the request.

There is no charge if the records concerned contain only personal information relating to the applicant, unless there are a significant number of records. A deposit is payable where the estimated cost of search and retrieval exceeds the prescribed minimum level of €101. The deposit will be a minimum of 20% of the estimated search and retrieval costs.

Internal Review – fee

A fee of €30 (€10 for medical card holders) applies where the request was for non-personal information. There is no fee for internal review applications concerning only personal information relating to oneself or in relation to a decision regarding fees.

Review by the Information Commissioner – fee

A fee of €50 (€15 for medical card holders) applies.

Following completion of an internal review, you may seek independent review of the decision from the Information Commissioner. Also, if you have not received a reply to your application for internal review within three weeks, this is deemed to be a refusal and you may appeal the matter to the Information Commissioner. The appeal must be made within six months of the internal review decision. A fee of €50 (€15 for medical card holders) applies. Appeals in writing may be made directly to the Information Commissioner at the following address:

Office of the Information Commissioner
18 Lower Leeson Street,
Dublin 2.
Phone: +353-1-6785222
Fax: +353-1-6610570
E-mail: foi@ombudsman.irlgov.ie
Website: http://www.oic.ie

The Act sets out a series of exemptions to protect sensitive information where its disclosure may be damaging or inappropriate. Where Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies invokes these provisions to withhold information, the decision may be appealed. Decisions in relation to deferral of access, charges, forms of access, etc. may also be the subject of appeal. Details of the review and appeals mechanisms are as follows:

Internal Review

Review by the Information Commissioner