THERE were 168 complaints from Limerick people to the Ombudsman last year, including 70 about Limerick City and County Council.
Among the bodies complained about were the University of Limerick, who were the subject of five complaints to the office; Limerick Institute of Technology (now TUS), about which there was one complaint and the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, which was the subject of two complaints to the Ombudsman.
There were 796 complaints about the Health sector which includes the HSE, public hospitals and Tusla. This represented an increase of 26 per cent on last year’s figures.
325 complaints were about HSE services, including 105 complaints about Primary and Community care, and 56 about the Treatment Abroad and Cross Border Directive schemes. Tusla was the subject of 118 complaints to the Ombudsman.
There is no breakdown of which hospitals and areas the complaints referred to, as the Office of the Ombudsman regards the HSE as one entity for recording purposes.
Recently-appointed Ombudsman Ger Deering said that 4,004 complaints were received by his Office – a 17 per cent increase on 2020, and the highest ever in the 38-year history of the Ombudsman
Mr Deering said that complaints about local authorities accounted for the largest proportion of the increase, with 1,290 complaints – an increase of 45 per cent on 2020. Complaints mainly related to housing and planning issues.
There were 227 complaints made to the Ombudsman about Dublin City Council, 101 complaints about Cork City Council and 70 about Limerick City and County Council.
