Zum Sprechtag am 10.09.2024 in Gera begrüßte der neu gewählte Oberbürgermeister der Stadt, Kurt Dannenberg, den Bürgerbeauftragten, Dr. Kurt Herzberg, zu einem Gespräch. Herzberg informierte den Oberbürgermeister über seine Tätigkeit und berichtete von den vielfältigen Erfahrungen, die Bürgerinnen und Bürger im Umgang mit Behörden machen. Dannenberg erläuterte die Strukturanpassungen innerhalb der Verwaltung, die sich seit seiner Amtsübernahme vollzogen haben. Sowohl Oberbürgermeister als auch Bürgerbeauftragter betonten die Bedeutung einer effizienten und zugleich bürgernahen Verwaltung für die Akzeptanz kommunalen und staatlichen Handelns. Schließlich besprachen beide die Wege der zukünftigen Zusammenarbeit bei der Bearbeitung von Bürgeranliegen. 

Published on 18 September 2024

Ombudsman Ger Deering has called for adequate funding to be given to the HSE to avoid younger people with a disability having to live inappropriately in nursing homes.

The Ombudsman’s call comes after he had asked the HSE to update him on its progress in implementing measures identified in a 2021 Ombudsman investigation report into the inappropriate placement of people under 65 in nursing homes. 

The HSE told the Ombudsman that 81 people have been moved to appropriate care and plans are at an advanced stage to move a further 17 people.  However, the HSE has also informed the Ombudsman that after these people move there will be no more funding available this year for any further moves.    

At the time of the Ombudsman’s report, ‘Wasted Lives: Time for a better future for younger people in nursing homes’, around 1,300 people under 65 were living in nursing home settings supported by the Nursing Home Support Scheme (the ‘Fair Deal’ scheme).

The Ombudsman said:

“I acknowledge the work done by the HSE so far in facilitating people to live life to their full potential. However, I am disappointed by the pace of the progress.  I do not accept that a lack of funds should now become a barrier.”

The Ombudsman said that he was delighted that 81 people have been able to access appropriate care and transition out of a nursing home. He commended those who had made this happen. But he said that as of July 2024 there are over 1,200 who have not had that opportunity.

Further details are contained in the HSE’s ‘Recommendations Implementation Progress Update’ and the ‘Ombudsman’s update on Wasted Lives’, both available on the Ombudsman website www.ombudsman.ie.

Project report "Providing fundamental rights expertise to stakeholders operating in Greek migration and asylum system"

In an interview with Prof. Andrew Azzopardi on RTK103, Perit Alan Saliba, the Commissioner for Environment and Planning, discussed various aspects of his professional journey and his role within the Office of the Ombudsman.

Key topics covered during the interview included the Commissioner’s career, his responsibilities, and the current state of the environment in Malta. Perit Saliba also elaborated on the investigations he undertakes, and the immediate and long-term changes required in the fields of environment and planning.

La Valedora do Pobo, Dolores Fernández Galiño, ha comparecido hoy ante la Comisión de Peticiones del Parlamento de Galicia para dar cuenta del Informe Anual 2023.

Intervinieron como representantes de los grupos parlamentarios  Armando Ojeda Bouzo por el Grupo Mixto, Paloma Castro Rey por el PSOE, Oscar Insua Lena por el BNG y  Paula Prado por el PP.