In advance of the forthcoming election, the Ombudsman has taken the opportunity to submit the proposals below to political parties in an effort to ensure that public service reform remains high on the agenda of the next Government.

These proposals include:

• Reform in the area of home care
• Improving transport for persons with disabilities
• Improving the direct provision/international protection application process
• Extending the Ombudsman remit in the health sector to include decisions involving ‘clinical judgement’
• Extending the remit of the Ombudsman to prison matters
• Bringing all bodies in receipt of significant public funding within the scope of Freedom of Information legislation