Introduction

About Us

The Office of the Ombudsman is an organisation comprising three key bodies that are central to bringing about increased openness, transparency, accountability and enhanced efficiencies in Irish public life: the Office of the Ombudsman, Office of the Information Commissioner (incorporating the Commissioner for Environmental Information) and the Standards in Public Office Commission Secretariat. The Office of the Ombudsman is primarily concerned with fairness and soundness in the public service: this is achieved mainly through investigating individual complaints, recommending redress as appropriate, and by the identification of systemic administrative issues. The Office of the Information Commissioner’s functions relate primarily to adjudicating on applications under the Freedom of Information Acts and by identifying systemic failings in relation to the operation of the Acts by public bodies. In addition, the Information Commissioner is also the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI) since 2007; the additional workload currently being absorbed by the staff of the OIC. The focus of the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC) is the oversight of the Ethics and Electoral legislation, the spirit of which is to ensure accountability and high standards in Irish public life. The SIPOC Secretariat also services the requirements of Referendum Commissions when operational. The three Offices each carry out separate and distinct statutory functions: nonetheless they function as a single amalgamated agency under one Vote and one Accounting Officer and a corporate management board which manages the Organisation, while, at the same time, protecting and preserving the statutory independence and functions of each of the constituent parts. Each Office has its own staff complement but the finance, human resources and information technology functions are shared between all three Offices.

The Standards in Public Office Commission staff were included in the consultation process as a result of their physical location within the Ombudsman’s Office and SIPOC’s operational relationship with the Office of the Ombudsman (staff provision and back office supports). However, SIPOC is an independent statutory body and has undertaken a separate strategy review.

As such, this Review is concerned only with the Offices of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner. In terms of the Review itself, given the dual responsibility the Ombudsman holds for both the Office of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner and also the close working relationship that exists between the two Offices, not only have individual strategic objectives been identified over the course of the next three years but also opportunities for joint strategic initiatives.

Office of the Ombudsman

Established under the Ombudsman Act, 1980, the core activity of the Office of the Ombudsman is the examination and investigation of complaints about administrative actions, delays or inaction adversely affecting persons or bodies in their dealings with government departments, local authorities, the Health Service Executive and its agencies and the postal service. The Office also investigates complaints relating to certain functions of public bodies covered by the Disability Act, 2005.

A further significant extension of the Ombudsman’s remit is envisaged under the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill currently before the Oireachtas. When enacted, the Bill will extend the Ombudsman’s remit to most areas of the wider public service, including the state agency sector. Among the other areas for inclusion are the third-level education sector, the Vocational Educational Committees and FÁS. Currently, the structure of the Office is such that it has several divisions, each with its own distinct operational responsibilities and expertise. The complaints examination divisions are Civil Service Section, Local Authorities Section and Health and Social Welfare Section. The Head of each division, a Senior Investigator, reports directly to the Director General or the Ombudsman/Information Commissioner, as appropriate. In addition, a Shared Services Unit supports the operations of the organisation as a whole.

Each division comprises a number of Investigators at Assistant Principal level and a support unit comprising a number of staff from Clerical Officer to Higher Executive Officer level.

Office of the Information Commissioner

Established under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 1997, the role of the Commissioner is to review (on application) decisions made in relation to FOI requests and to make binding new decisions. Her role is also to keep the operation of the Act under review with a view to ensuring maximum compliance among public bodies; to encourage the voluntary publication by public bodies of information on their activities; and to prepare and publish commentaries on the practical operation of the Act. The Information Commissioner is also the Commissioner for Environmental Information (CEI) which involves broadly similar functions to that of the Office of Information Commissioner. All references in this document to the Office of the Information

Commissioner (OIC) relate also to the Commissioner for Environmental Information unless otherwise stated. The structure of the Office is such that it has two teams of investigators, each reporting directly to a Senior Investigator. A single support unit comprising staff from Clerical Officer to Higher Executive Officer services both teams.

Objectives of the Strategic Plan

The primary purpose of this strategic plan is to provide a blueprint to focus our efforts over the next three years on further developing the services and capabilities of the Office of the Ombudsman and the OIC (hereinafter referred to jointly as the “Office”). It will serve to clarify and streamline where we as an organisation fit within a changing sector and the role we envision for ourselves over the next three years.

Our Strategy for 2010-2012

• Establishes the Vision and Mission of the Office,
• Makes explicit the main environmental factors influencing the development of the strategy,
• Determines the specific objectives that the Office should set in order to achieve its Vision and Mission,
• Examines the specific actions that are required to deliver on these objectives,
• Outlines agreed appropriate means to measure the achievement of all future strategic priorities, and
• Helps prepare the Office for future challenges in implementing and achieving the strategic goals of the organisation.

The Strategy Development Process

The strategy development process consisted of three key steps, which are summarised in the diagram below.

The Strategy Document

We have articulated an ambitious future plan for the Office through our new Vision, Outcomes and associated Objectives and have developed an Action Plan which details how we will strengthen our existing capabilities and develop new expertise.

The plan is designed to be realistic and attainable and all aspects are complementary to the original premise of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Information