The Ombudsman may state criticism and recommend that the authorities reopen a case and perhaps change their decision, but the Ombudsman cannot himself make decisions. The Ombudsman may consider legal questions but not matters which require other specialist knowledge.

Over recent years the Ombudsman has received between 5,000 and 6,000 complaints annually from citizens who believe that a public authority has made mistakes. 

The Ombudsman may also take up cases on his own initiative, such as issues which have been the focus of media attention.

Each year the Ombudsman’s Monitoring Division visits a large number of public institutions, such as prisons, psychiatric institutions and social care homes. The Ombudsman’s Children’s Division visits institutions for children and also processes complaints from both children and adults about conditions for children.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman employs about 120 staff members.