Schedule 3: The Office for Environmental Protection: Northern Ireland Part 1: The OEP’s Northern Ireland functions Duty to keep complainants informed
Paragraph 8 sets out the OEP’s duty to inform a complainant about whether an investigation will be carried out following their complaint and, if so, about the progress of the investigation. Under this paragraph:
The OEP must inform the complainant if their complaint will not be considered for further investigation on the basis that it was not made in accordance with paragraph 6 – see sub-paragraph (2)(a).
Where a complaint has been made in accordance with paragraph 6, the OEP must advise the complainant whether or not an investigation into that complaint will be carried out – see sub-paragraphs (2)(b) and (2)(c).
When a report on an investigation under paragraph 7(5) has been provided to the relevant public authority, sub-paragraph (2)(d)(i) requires the OEP to inform the complainant of this, although it is not obliged to disclose the report to the complainant.
Where the OEP makes a review application in relation to the failure that was the subject of the complaint under paragraph 12, or an application for judicial review under paragraph 13(1), sub-paragraph (2)(d)(ii) requires the OEP to inform the complainant of this.
Where the OEP publishes a report following the investigation of a complaint, it must provide the complainant with a copy of that report as published in full or in part, as required by sub-paragraph (2)(e).