A 'publication scheme' is essentially a guide to the types of information a public authority makes available pro-actively to the public by, for example, publishing on its website or by otherwise making documents routinely available on demand without the need to engage the formal FOI written request procedure. Upon adopting a scheme approved by the Information Commissioner, a public authority has a commitment to make available those classes of information identified within the scheme.
Following a review carried out by the ICO a Model Publication Scheme (link below) was produced, setting out 7 broad categories of information that all public authorities are expected to consider for publication. The ICO has further refined this model scheme by producing a related Definition Document for NI Government Departments (link below) which gives examples of the types of information within each category that it would be good practice for departments to make available routinely. This Model Scheme has been adopted by DETI with effect from January 2009.