Mr. Peter Tyndall:

I understand the Department proposes in its business plan to introduce some of the changes permitted in the 2012 Act in terms of bringing bodies into jurisdiction. We will be asking it to consider that as one of the priorities for introducing changes. This issue is linked to the question of resources. We did quite well in terms of reducing the backlog by introducing new processes and systems but due to the increase in demand we are now struggling. We were pleased to get additional resources on the Information Commissioner side because that has had an impact in helping us to address backlogs in that area, but I am starting to worry about our capacity on the Ombudsman side to deal with complaints as their number increases. We have had a blip in that a number of key individuals have retired and it takes time to recruit replacements and get them up to speed. We are struggling somewhat at present but we are hopeful that when we fill the posts we will be able to get back onto an even keel. In terms of getting rid of the backlog, we have made a case for more resources but I understand that everybody is making similar cases and we try to manage well with what we have.

We are conscious of a limitation and what difference it makes in practice. We have taken on the own-initiative investigation on health complaints and there are other own-initiative investigations we would like to carry out. However, we know we only have limited resources and such investigations will have to wait their turn. We would like to do some of them sooner rather than later but we cannot.