Number of complaints to Ombudsman reaches 10-year high

The office of the Ombudsman says the number of complaints it received last year was the highest in more than a decade.

In its latest annual report, the office says it handled almost 2,800 complaints against public bodies last year, an increase of 8% on the figure for 2007.

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has also used the report to express serious concern about the low level of complaints from people with disabilities.

She says many people with disabilities are not given the help they need to make a complaint about a public body and many public servants lack knowledge about their responsibilities under the Disability Act.