Ombudsman’s report - Worrying rise in complaints

YESTERDAY’S publication of the Ombudsman’s annual report was another indication of something bordering on social disintegration.

The Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, reported that her office received nearly 4,000 complaints about government departments or state bodies last year. This is the highest number in a decade.

As unemployment approaches 15%, it is unsurprising that there was a 53% increase in complaints relating to the Department of Social Protection.

The Ombudsman pointed too to a cultural reluctance to accept the need for transparency. She pointed out that, despite requests going back over three years, 11 departments or local authorities refused to point service users to her office through their website.

This is the kind of petty obstructionism that makes real public sector reform seem such a remote hope.