IRELAND | Ombudsman holds first online outreach event

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall and his team held a virtual regional “visit” to the Sligo Roscommon Leitrim area between 4 and 11 September 2020. As part of its annual outreach programme the office usually holds complaint clinics, engages with public representatives and the providers of public services located in a particular county.

Covid-19 restrictions meant the office had to take an innovative approach this year, by holding virtual meetings and online webinars. Over the week, the Ombudsman and his team:

  • held an information webinar on the work of the Office for staff in the local Citizens Information Centres;

  • met by video conference with all three County Councils, and Roscommon University Hospital to discuss ‘learning from complaints’ and

  • provided a 24-hour ‘Call Back’ service for people in Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon to provide advice and assistance on their complaints.  

On Thursday, the Ombudsman also hosted a webinar: “How complaints can improve public services”, attended by 88 local public representatives, officials in local public bodies and other interested groups.  At the webinar Ombudsman Peter Tyndall, and Senior Investigators Jennifer Hanrahan and Dave Nutley, outlined the type of complaints the Ombudsman receives from the people of Sligo, Roscommon and Leitrim. They discussed how providers of local public services can use complaints to help improve the delivery of public services.

The Ombudsman also produced a special Sligo - Leitrim - Roscommon Casebook containing summaries and statistical analysis of complaints received from the three counties. In 2019 the Ombudsman received 128 complaints from people in the area.

 

Source: Office of the Ombudsman, Ireland

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