Making a Complaint

Comments, Complaints & Suggestions

Complaints Form ColouredIf you feel that you have been unfairly treated by the Council you first need to contact the Complaints Officer.  Waterford County Council will let you know they have received your letter of complaint within 5 working days and will do its best to send a comprehensive response within 4 weeks.

Who can make a complaint?

Anyone can make a complaint if they feel that:

  • They have been unfairly treated by the Council.
  • That a service to which they are entitled is not being provided.
  • That a service which is being provided is inadequate.
  • That a decision made with regard to them is wrong or did not take into consideration all the facts.
  • That a request for a service / information has been ignored.

What is not covered by the Complaints System?

The complaints system does not include areas where formal appeals or complaints procedures already exist, for example planning decisions or decisions on requests for information under the Freedom of Information Acts.

How do I make a complaint?

You must complain in writing to the Complaints Officer, Waterford Co. Council, Civic Offices, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.


Simply complete the  Complaints Form (word .doc, 71 kbs) giving all relevant details of your complaint.

If you would like help to phrase your complaint, you may contact the Complaints Officer on 058 22000 or at complaints@waterfordcoco.ie.

How do I know my complaint is being dealt with?

The Complaints Officer will let you know within 5 working days that the complaint has reached the office.

This acknowledgement will quote your individual complaint number and will give the name and contact number of the person assigned to deal with your complaint.

It will also confirm a date when you can expect to receive a full response.

The Appeal Process

If I am not happy with the response received what can I do?

If you do not receive a response within the time frame specified, or if the response you receive is not satisfactory, you may appeal to the Complaints Officer. Make sure you include your complaint number in your letter of appeal.

When the Complaints Officer receives your complaint, they will carry out a full review of the case.

What happens if I'm still not happy with the outcome?
If you are still not happy, you may appeal the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.

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