County Council tops for public service complaints in Galway

A QUARTER of the complaints made about public services in Galway last year were against Galway County Council.

This is according to the Annual Report for 2025 published by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Report reveals that a total of 217 complaints were made from people living in Galway in 2025, out of which 56 complaints were about Galway County Council and 39 were about the Galway City Council.

A further 16 complaints were made about University Hospital Galway and 14 about the University of Galway.

Some of the complaints received were made through the Ombudsman’s monthly complaint clinic in Galway Citizens Information Centre.

A total of 5,297 complaints made nationally reflect an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year (2024), and the highest number in over 30 years.

“Last year continued the trend of a significant and steady increase in the number of complaints being made to the office,” said Ombudsman Ger Deering.

An increase of almost 20 per cent has been recorded in the number of complaints about local authorities, compared to the previous year.

Over 1500 complaints were made about Government Departments and Offices, with the Department of Social Protection being the subject of 686 complaints.

There were 861 complaints about public bodies in the Health sector, with 720 involving the HSE and 110 about Tusla.

Because of the increase of complaints about local authorities in recent years, the Ombudsman engaged with the sector to develop a standardised policy and procedure for dealing with complaints from the public.

Ombudsman Deering said that the Local Authority Complaints Policy is being rolled out by local authorities during 2026.

“I am hopeful that its implementation will improve service delivery and complaint handling by local authorities, and so benefit everyone using their services.”