Latest OIA data released by the Ombudsman – LGOIMA data to be released in September

The Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier today released his latest Official Information Act data, which shows a 34% rise in complaints received by his office since the data was first published two-and-a-half years ago.

The number of OIA complaints received by the Office of the Ombudsman in the six months from 1 July to 31 December 2018 increased from 697 in the previous six months to 1194, with 471 of these complaints from one individual relating to delayed responses from school Boards of Trustees. Without that block of complaints, there were 723 complaints received, an increase on the previous six months of 3.7%.

Individuals made up 70% of complaints (discounting the 471) followed by the media at 20%, with political parties or research units accounting for 6% of complaints.

As in the past, the three main areas of complaint (discounting the 471) were delays in decision making (20%), refusal of information in part (21%) and refusal in full (30%).

The Office of the Ombudsman completed 662 complaints, with 41% either not requiring investigation, or being resolved before an investigation began. Only 20% required the Ombudsman to form a final opinion.

At the same time as the Office published its complaints and outcomes data, the State Services Commission published its data on OIA requests received by agencies and their response times.

For more information: Mark Torley, 027 275 5733, [email protected].