There were 60 complaints made to the Ombudsman in 2024 against the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This made the DAFM the fifth most-complained about in the government department and office category last year.

These figures are published in the Ombudsman Annual Report 2024.

There was an overall increase in complaints against government departments and offices in 2024.

There was a total of 1,397 complaints – 19% more than last year.

This increase can primarily be attributed to a rise in complaints about the Department of Foreign Affairs – up from 155 in 2023 to 380 in 2024. These complaints primarily related to passports.

The highest number of complaints about a government department or office were against the Department of Social Protection (604), followed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (380) the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (84), Social Welfare Appeals Office (62) and the DAFM (60).

The DAFM's figure is down on its 2023 figure of 75 complaints.

Overall, of the complaints received in this sector which the Ombudsman was able to investigate, it upheld or partly upheld 26% and provided some form of assistance in a further 24% of cases. 50% of cases were not upheld.

Ombudsman Ger Deering said that since the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman over 40 years ago, the number of complaints received has risen.

Deering went before the Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen today (Tuesday).

In his submission to the committee, he said that in 2023, his office received 4,465 complaints in total, which increased to 4,778 in 2024, representing a 7% increase.

"In 2023 we responded to 8,171 enquiries which increased to 8,890 in 2024, representing an almost 9% increase," Geering said.

In 2024, despite the continuing rise in complaint numbers, the Ombudsman said it resolved 80% of complaints within three months (3,722 complaints in total, representing a 4.2% increase on 2023 figures).

It resolved 93% of complaints within six months (4,329 complaints in total, representing a 5.1% increase over 2023 figures).

It continued its trend of resolving 98% of complaints within 12 months.

In the regulatory category, the highest number of complaints received last year were about the Legal Services Regulatory Authority with 130, followed by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) with 59, and 56 about the National Transport Authority (NTA).

Among the RSA matters complained about were difficulties applying for, or renewing, driving licences, and issues around arranging and taking driving tests.

Among the NTA issues were general complaint handling and the administration of clamping appeals.