Ombudsman: I should be able to receive Irish Water complaints

The Ombudsman has called for complaints about Irish Water to come back under his remit and said he was "not consulted" about the decision to remove it from his jurisdiction.

Speaking before an Oireachtas Committee, Peter Tyndall said he felt the decision to stop his office from receiving complaints about the implementation of the new water charges was “an oversight” and that he had asked Government to bring Irish Water, and the other utilities, back into the remit of his office.

He said there had been an increase in complaints this year “across the board,” including involving the recovery of repayment of benefits, but the complaints do not include those relating to Irish Water.