Contact Information

The Office of the Ombudsman is open between 9.15 and 5.30 Monday to Thursday and 9.15 to 5.15 on Friday.

18 Lr. Leeson Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: +353-1-639 5600

Lo-call: 1890 223030

Fax: +353-1-639 5674

Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie

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Press Releases

2011 Press Releases

20.12.2011 Failure to Refund Illegal Nursing Home Charges: Family of Elderly Medical Card Holder to get €24,000 refund

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has today (Wednesday 21 December 2011) published the report of her investigation of a complaint against the Health Service Executive (HSE) and against the Appeals Officer (Health Repayment Scheme). The complaint was made on behalf of an elderly woman who had a medical card. She had been charged for nursing home care during the period 2003 - 2004 at a time when health boards had no legal basis for imposing such charges.

14.11.2011 Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publishes four Investigation Reports into complaints which she successfully resolved.

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has today (14th November, 2011) published full details of Investigation Reports into four complaints in the health and social protection areas, which she has successfully resolved.

19.09.2011 New Health and Social Care Public Service Launched

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly attends the launch at Dublin Castle of a joint initiative on How and Where to Complain about Heath and Social Care Services in Ireland.

25.07.2011 Too Old to be Equal?

Department of Health's Scheme discriminates against older people. Department knew that Mobility Allowance Scheme was discriminatory for years but failed to act.

08.06.2011 Ombudsman Annual Report 2010

Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, publishes her eighth Annual Report and the twenty-seventh since the Office of the Ombudsman was established in 1984. Ombudsman strongly welcomes Government´s reforming commitment to extend the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman to all publicly funded bodies and the establishment of a new Oireachtas Committee as the formal channel of consultation and collaboration between the Oireachtas and the Ombudsman.

03.02.2011 Developing and Optimising the Role of the Ombudsman

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, wrote yesterday (2 February 2011) to the leaders and relevant spokespersons of the political parties represented in the outgoing Dáil with her proposals on how the Ombudsman's Office can best contribute to reform of government.

2010 Press Releases

13.12.2010 Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, publishes Investigation Report about Limerick Regional Hospital and the care of a 61 year-old man.

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, today (13th December 2010) published a report into the care and treatment of a patient and his family at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick. The daughter of the 61 year-old man complained to the Ombudsman about the care her father had received in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. While in hospital for treatment for a stroke, her father suffered a fall from his hospital bed and suffered a broken tooth, an 8cm laceration to the back of his head and cuts to his tongue. He died 52 hours later.

17.11.2010 Ombudsman Report – Who Cares? Clarification of issues raised in Dáil debate, 16th November 2010

The Ombudsman Report, Who Cares? An Investigation into the Right to Nursing Home Care in Ireland, was the subject of a Dáil Motion yesterday evening (16 November 2010); debate on this motion is to be completed this evening (17 November 2010). Given that her report is a substantial one, and for the benefit of the members of the Dáil and Seanad, the Ombudsman is now setting out the responses to these criticisms already contained in the report itself and in the related published correspondence.

09.11.2010 Who Cares? - An Investigation into the right to nursing home care in Ireland

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, has today laid before the Dáil and Seanad an investigation report looking at the actions of the Department of Health and Children and of the HSE. The report is based on 1,200 complaints received over 25 years regarding the right to long-term nursing home care for older people.

21.10.2010 Lost at Sea Scheme - Ombudsman's Special Report

Ombudsman expresses disappointment at outcome of Committee's deliberations. Government a judge in its own case to the detriment of the people.

15.10.2010 Lost at Sea Scheme - Ombudsman's Special Report

Ombudsman issues media release related to Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Lost at Sea Special Report

28.09.2010 Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publishes three Investigation Reports into complaints which she successfully settled.

Details on 3 Cases successfully settled by the Ombudsman.

17.09.2010 Ombudsman welcomes the Health Service Executive initiative to promote its customer service programme "Your Service Your Say" – 20th - 24th September 2010.

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, today (Friday, 17th September 2010) welcomed the Health Service Executive (HSE) initiative to promote its customer service programme "Your Service Your Say" – 20th - 24th September 2010.

20.07.2010 Investigation Report on a complaint made against Meath County Council

The Ombudsman, Emily O´Reilly, today published an Investigation Report into a complaint from a married couple concerning their treatment by Meath County Council over a large-scale, unauthorised shed development beside their home.

15.07.2010 Gagging the Ombudsman?

Ombudsman Reports to Oireachtas on Bad Experience with Health Service Executive

01.07.2010 Ombudsman Annual Report 2009

This is Emily O’Reilly's seventh Annual Report as Ombudsman and the twenty-sixth since the Office of the Ombudsman, the first one in the State, was established back in 1984. Commenting on the 2009 complaint cases spotlighted, Emily O’Reilly stated: “The Ombudsman complaints service is for everyone who needs it, to use free of charge. Since 1984 we have helped nearly 73,000 people with valid complaints - It is a proud record of achievement."

09.03.2010 In the Public Interest: Lessons from the Ombudsman's Experience

The Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, Emily O´Reilly, today (9 March, 2010) gave an address at the Institute of Public Administration/Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting Conference on "Good governance: Values and Culture or Rules and Regulations", in Dublin.

03.02.2010 Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, welcomes Dáil Debate on the Lost at Sea Scheme Special Report

The Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, today welcomed the decision to hold a Dáil debate on the Special Report of her investigation into a complaint about the Lost at Sea Scheme. The debate will commence at 1.30pm tomorrow - Thursday, 4 February 2010.

2009 Press Releases

14.12.2009 Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly submitted a Special Report to each House of the Oireachtas

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly submitted a Special Report to each House of the Oireachtas following the decision of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to reject her findings in an investigation report, together with her recommendations to pay financial compensation to a complainant.

22.09.2009 Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publishes four Reports into complaints which she successfully settled

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publishes four Reports into complaints which she successfully settled

13.07.2009 Local Authority charges for photocopying planning documents

Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly submits a report to the Dáil and Seanad on excessive local authority charges levied on people for photocopying planning documents.

01.07.2009 Annual Report of the Ombudsman 2008

Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly releases her Annual Report for year 2008. A record 2,787 complaints made to her Office in 2008 - an 8% upsurge over previous year, and the highest number recorded in over 10 years.

27.01.2009 25th Anniversary - Ombudsman's Office reaches quarter century mark

Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly meets President McAleese, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Ombudsman's Office.

2008 Press Releases

15.12.2008 A Report by the Ombudsman in relation to a complaint about the care and treatment of a patient at St Mary's Care Centre, Mullingar, Westmeath.

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publishes today an Investigation Report about the standard of care and treatment of an elderly woman admitted for respite care in a HSE public nursing home in Mullingar

20.10.2008 Investigation Report into the operation by local authorities of waiver schemes for refuse collection charges

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publishes Investigation Report into the operation by local authorities of waiver schemes for refuse collection charges. Says, “Multiplicity and diversity of schemes is a shambles and that where somebody lives, or who collects their rubbish, should not determine whether they can get a waiver or how much of the charge is set aside”.

22.10.2008 Digest of complaints referred to the Ombudsman by public representatives.

The Ombudsman Emily O´Reilly, publishes a Digest of twelve complaints referred to her for examination by public representatives.

18.08.2008 Ombudsman publishes Four Case Reports

Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly publicises 4 Reports into complaints which she successfully settled: *€147 weekly carers allowance awarded to Dublin woman by Government Department plus €6,100 backmoney. *HSE grants €190 weekly nursing home subvention to 90 year old west Cork woman with €5000 arrears. *Elderly female medical card holder from Offaly gets €462 refund from H.S.E for private nursing home costs. *Sligo County Council revises decision on development charge of €2,000 for house water connection.