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What sort of complaint can the Northern Ireland
Ombudsman deal with?
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman can take up complaints
in Northern Ireland about the way an individual has been treated
by a local government department, central government department
or other public body. Examples of other public bodies are
the Arts Council, district policing partnerships, the Equality
Commission and Invest Northern Ireland.
The Ombudsman is concerned about maladministration by a public
body, for example, how procedures are used. Examples of the
type of complaint the Ombudsman could deal with are:
- slow and unsatisfactory responses to letters to government
departments
- incorrect or misleading information and advice given by
government officials
- refusal of government officials to give information
- rudeness, discrimination or unhelpfulness of government
officials
- failure to follow reasonable rules in procedures and administration.
The Ombudsman cannot investigate the following
types of complaint:
- complaints about nationalised industries
- problems which can usually be taken to court
- complaints about the way legal proceedings are conducted,
for example, complaints about the administrative staff of
courts, unless the staff acted on the authority of the judge
or magistrate
- complaints about the police
- complaints about things which have not caused the person
complaining hardship or suffering
- complaints about government policies
- complaints lodged more than twelve months after you became
aware you had reason to complain.
The Northern Ireland Ombudsman has two offices, the Assembly
Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Complaints.
The Assembly Ombudsman
Complaints to the Assembly Ombudsman must be referred by
a Member of the Assembly (MLA). The Assembly Ombudsman investigates
complaints against any of the Northern Ireland central government
departments and other bodies including the Child Support Agency
and the Planning Service.
What sort of complaint can the Assembly Ombudsman deal with?
A full list of organisations that the Assembly ombudsman
can deal with is available on the Northern Ireland Ombudsman
website www.ni-ombudsman.org.uk. The organisations are divided
into four categories:
- government departments. This includes organisations such
as the Department of Education, the Department for Social
Development and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy
First Minister
- government agencies. This includes organisations such
as the Child Support Agency, the Social Security Agency
and the Water Service
Other organisations.
This includes organisations such as the Food Safety Promotion
Board, the General Register Office and the Registry of Deeds.
Tribunals
This includes the Planning Appeals Commission, Industrial
and Fair Employment Tribunals and Disability Appeal Tribunals.
What can the Assembly Ombudsman do?
If the Ombudsman agrees to look into the case, there will
be a private investigation. You may be interviewed at home
by someone from the Ombudsman's office.
If the Ombudsman agrees that the complaint is justified,
the government department concerned will be asked to put the
problem right. The Ombudsman's report will be sent to the
department, the MLA and the person making the complaint.
The Ombudsman cannot force a government department or other
public body to put the problem right, and there is no appeal
against the findings. However, where the Ombudsman agrees
with the complaint and asks a public body to put the problem
right, the public body will usually respond. The Ombudsman
could ask for:
- an apology
- repayment of money due, for example, tax or benefit
- compensation, for example, for delays
- improved procedures
- better administrative procedures at the department.
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