Direct provision complaints down in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, says ombudsman

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall said visiting centres and meeting residents was the best way to field complaints and assess standards. File picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

The number of complaints about the direct provision system fell significantly in 2020 primarily due to Covid-19 restrictions, the ombudsman has confirmed.

The pandemic not only highlighted the unsuitability of many of the direct provision centres but also impacted on the ombudsman’s ability to visit centres and meet with residents.