Inquiry Officer
Colm Walsh is An Coimisiún Pleanála's Inquiry Officer under section 39(1) of the Disability Act. The Inquiry Officer responds to complaints made under section 38 of the Disability Act 2005 about An Coimisiún Pleanála''s possible failure to comply with sections 25, 26, 27, 28 or 29 of the Disability Act 2005. To help An Coimisiún Pleanála's Inquiry Officer respond to your complaint, it must be in writing and sent by email, post, fax or delivered to our office.
You or a person on your behalf can make a complaint. Persons who can make a complaint on your behalf are:
- ■ a spouse, partner, parent or relative,
- ■ a guardian or a person acting in loco parentis to that person,
- ■ a legal representative,
- ■ a personal advocate, selected by the Citizens Information Board to represent that person, or
- ■ another person advocating on behalf of that person with his or her consent.
There is a checklist below of information which will help the Inquiry Officer investigate and respond to complaints. However, you are not required to use this checklist and if you need assistance in making a complaint about accessible services, you can contact the Access Officer or Inquiry Officer who will try and assist you as far as possible in making your complaint.
Check List for complaint under the Disability Act 2005
- Your name, address, contact telephone number and e-mail address.
- Whether you were looking for Access to information, a service, or a public building/place.
Some information you may wish to include:
- Whether you are seeking access for yourself or on behalf of someone else?
- What An Coimisiún Pleanála section were you dealing with?
- Who did you meet? (Staff names if possible)
- What date or dates was this?
- How and why was the service/building inaccessible?
- What was the response of the person(s) you were dealing with?
- Were any commitments made for future accessibility?
- Why are you dissatisfied with the response?
Post or Hand deliver:
Section 38 Disability Act 2005 Complaint
Chief Officer, An Coimisiún Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902
Email:
bord@pleanala.ie with subject line "Section 38 Disability Act 2005 complaint"
What happens after you make a complaint?
When the Chief Officer receives your complaint, it will be referred to the Inquiry Officer. After receiving your complaint, the Inquiry Officer will acknowledge it within 5 working days, examine the compliance failure, and start an investigation (unless deemed frivolous or vexatious).
Investigation
- The Inquiry Officer will investigate your complaint in private and keep a written record.
- Further information may be required; you may be given a deadline for supplying this.
- During the investigation, the Inquiry Officer may consult or interview any appropriate parties.
Inquiry Officer's reply and report
- A reply will be sent within 21 working days (or you will be notified if it takes longer).
- The report will set out findings and determinations regarding Disability Act compliance.
- If a failure is found, the report will state required steps to correct the situation.
Internal review of Inquiry Officer's findings
- If unsatisfied, you can ask for an internal review by a more senior member of staff.
- Requests will be acknowledged within 5 working days and a reply issued within 21 working days.
If you are not satisfied with An Coimisiún Pleanála's response to your complaint, you may wish to refer the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman.
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