Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of complaints received by her Department in 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007 by members of the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30198/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department aims to provide high quality services to customers as outlined in our Customer Charter and Customer Service Action Plan. However, there are occasions when our customers are dissatisfied with the service they have received. The complaints procedures in place in my Department are designed to help staff respond to all complaints and, where possible, to put things right.

My Department has published an information leaflet for customers on our standards and procedures, entitled Information for Customers Comments and Complaints. This leaflet informs customers how to make a comment/suggestion or a complaint and contains a Formal Complaint Form and a Comment and Suggestion Form. The leaflet is available upon request or can be downloaded from the Department's website at www.education.ie. Complaints can be made to any member of staff of my Department in relation to the service received. If a person is not satisfied that a complaint has been dealt with at the point of service, then they can make a formal complaint to my Department's Customer Services Unit.

The number of formal complaints received by my Department in 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007 is as follows: 2005 — 6 complaints received; 2006 — 7 complaints received; and to date 2007 — 1 complaint received.