Spain / Catalan Ombudsman | Details on the 2010 Annual Report

The Ombudsman’s 2010 Report to Parliament highlights that overall, there were 21,504 interventions, divided among 6,095 complaints (28%), 121 ex-officio actions (0.5%) and 15,288 queries (71%). The number of cases opened this year was higher than in prior years: the complaints rose by 2.6% and the ex-officio actions, by 15%.

In 2010, 31,344 people addressed the Catalan Ombudsman with their issues, nearly 3,000 more than in 2009. Most of the 6,095 complaints received had to do with the public administration (19%), territorial organization (14.4%) and social services (14.3%). As for the 15,288 queries handled, the most frequently consulted subject was consumer affairs (20.8%), followed by public administration (13.4%) and territorial organization (9.7%). 

Infringement of the right to equal opportunities in education

The elimination of educational offerings in socially underprivileged schools or neighborhoods, such as day and night-time pre-university secondary school courses, can have a negative effect on the right to equal opportunities in education.

Delays in processing payments derived from the Dependency Act.

Many actions have been taken in relation with the problems arising from the application of the Personal Autonomy Act (excessive recognition periods, disagreement with the assessment of dependency, delays in developing the individualized care program, or PIA).

The right to dignified housing and slow processing of subsidies and benefits

The Catalan Ombudsman has detected a lack of coordination between the Autonomous Government of Catalonia (Generalitat) and the Spanish Government in processing the basic emancipation benefits. The Ombudsman has also reminded the administration of the need to expedite public benefits for persons facing urgent situations, both for those applying for benefits to access housing, and those who may apply for benefits to avoid losing their home. 

Source: Catalan Ombudsman