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Number Of Complaints To Ombudsman Hits Record High

Wednesday, 25 May 2022 08:13

It's the most complaints ever recorded in one year - with 4% coming from the midlands.

Last year was a record year for complaints about public services.

The Ombudsman says his office received 4,004 - up 17 per cent on 2020 - and the highest ever level in its 38 year history.

Most of the grievances related to local authorities, which rose by 45 per cent to 1,290.

159 complaints, or 4% of the national total, came from the midlands - 58 in Westmeath, 57 in Laois, and 44 in Offaly.

Ombudsman Ger Deering says 2021 was a record year:

There were over 1,000 complaints about government departments, down 12 percent; while the health sector saw an increase of 25 percent to almost 800.

Mr. Deering says a number of reasons could be behind the spike in complaints last year:

You can view the annual report for 2021 in full here.

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