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Dep't. of Education and Science - Case Summaries 1999

Dep't. of Education and Science - Case Summaries 1999

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE OMBUDSMAN 1999 24 May 2000

In 1999 the Ombudsman received 123 valid complaints against the Department of Education and Science which amounted to 9% of the total number of complaints against Government Departments. The equivalent figure for 1998 was 143 complaints so the 1999 figure represents a decrease of 14% in complaints received against that Department. As 52 complaints against the Department had been carried forward from 1998, the total number of complaints on hand against the Department in 1999 was 175 . During the year 118 complaints were finalised of which: 22 cases were resolved, six cases were partially resolved, 48 cases were not upheld, assistance was provided in 19 cases and 23 cases were withdrawn or otherwise discontinued.

In 1999 the Ombudsman reports on the following cases involving the Department of Education and Science:

• What began as a dispute regarding the details of means assessment for a Higher Education Grant, finished with the retrospective award by the Department of a Third Level scholarship ( the Trí Ghaeilge scholarship) worth �10,319 over six years. In addition, the Department paid compensation of �1,273 for the delay in awarding the scholarship.Department of Education and Science
• The Report gives details of an investigation by the Ombudsman which centred on the treatment of a mature student under the Higher Education Grants scheme. The Ombudsman recommended redress for the particular student, the subject of the investigation, and the Department accepted this recommendation. On a general level the Ombudsman recommended that the Department review the operation of the Grants scheme so as to ensure that its operation is realistic and equitable. "Fair administration acknowledges that rules should not be applied so rigidly as to create inequity."
• The Ombudsman again draws attention to the problems, as he sees it, with some of the administrative schemes operated by, or under the aegis of, the Department. The School Transport Scheme, in particular, continues to be the subject of complaint. The Ombudsman has already expressed the view that such schemes should be placed on a statutory footing and he restates this view in this year's Annual Report.On-going Complaint Issues

The full text of this Press Release with relevant hyperlinks to the Annual Report is available on the Ombudsman's Internet site at http://www.irlgov.ie/ombudsman/239e_156.htm A detailed press release is also available at http://www.irlgov.ie/ombudsman/2396_156.htm The complete Annual Report is published at http://www.irlgov.ie/ombudsman/report99/pub.htm

Enquiries to Fintan Butler at 01-6785222, e-mail: fintan_butler@ombudsman.irglov.ie