Publication

Who we can investigate

From Office of the Ombudsman

Published on 12 July 2024

Last updated on 16 April 2025

You can complain to the Ombudsman about public service providers, including:

Government departments and offices, such as the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection or the Revenue Commissioners
Local authorities
Health Service Executive (HSE)
Agencies, such as charities and voluntary bodies, that deliver health and social services on behalf of the HSE
Publicly funded third-level educational bodies
Public and private nursing homes
Direct provision centres

You can view a list of bodies we can examine complaints about. This is not an exhaustive list. If the body is not on the list then please contact us to check.

You cannot complain to the Ombudsman about:

An Garda Síochána
An Post
Gas, electricity or other utility providers
Banks or financial institutions
Insurance companies
Telecommunications providers, such as Eir or Vodafone

View a list of exempt agencies at Exempt Agencies and view the list of agencies who may help if we cannot.

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