Drogheda meeting sees 31 complaints

THERE were 31 complaints made to Ombudsman Peter Tyndall’s office at its ‘complaints clinic’ in the D Hotel, Drogheda recently.

The ‘complaints clinic’ was one of a number of events held in Drogheda as part of the Ombudsman’s Outreach programme to Louth.

Over two days, the Ombudsman and his team also held an information session on the work of the Office for staff in Citizens Information Centres in Drogheda and Dundalk; met with Louth County Council and Our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Drogheda, and visited Mosney Direct Provision centre.

On the Friday, the Ombudsman hosted a seminar: ‘ How complaints can improve public services’, attended by over 40 local public representatives, officials in local public bodies and other interested groups.

The 31 complaints received on Thursday were spread across the wide range of public bodies that the Ombudsman examines complaints about, including Louth County Council, the HSE, local hospitals and the Revenue Commissioners.

At the seminar on Friday the Ombudsman Peter Tyndall, and Senior Investigators Dave Nutley and Tom Morgan, outlined the type of complaints the Ombudsman receives from the people of Louth and how providers of local public services can use complaints to help improve the delivery of public services. In 2017 the Ombudsman received 61 complaints from people in Louth.

For more information on the Office of the Ombudsman or advice on making a complaint, visit: www.ombudsman.ie, e mail: info@ombudsman.ie or call the Office at 01 639 5600.