You can complain to the Ombudsman if you are unhappy about how a government department or a public body treated you. The Ombudsman is free and independent of any government body. You can usually only complain to the Ombudsman if you have completed the organisation's complaints procedure.

Who is the Ombudsman?

The Ombudsman is a free, independent service dealing with complaints about government departments and public bodies in Northern Ireland. More

How to complain

You will usually have to use the organisation’s internal complaints procedure before complaining to the Ombudsman. You can complain directly to the Ombudsman. Sometimes need to contact your MLA first. More

What happens after I complain?

If the Ombudsman decides to carry out an investigation you should get a detailed report within 12 months. The report will decide if your complaint was justified or not. The Ombudsman can’t force an organisation to carry out his recommendations, most usually will. More