Section 15

if it relates to any action of which the complainant has had actual knowledge of the cause, facts or circumstances upon which the complaint is founded for more than twelve months before the complaint is received by the Ombudsman or if the complaint had already been made to a public service agency twelve months after he had been notified of the action or decision of the public service agency thereon, whichever is the later;

if the complaint is made anonymously or the complainant cannot be identified or traced;

if the complaint is not made by the individual aggrieved himself or, where the individual by whom the complaint might have been made has died or is for any reason unable to act for himself, by his personal representative or by a member of his family or other individual suitable to represent him;

if the complaint, or a complaint of a substantially similar nature, has previously been the subject of an investigation as a result of which the Ombudsman was of the opinion that there had been no maladministration;

the subject matter of the complaint is trivial; or

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the complaint is frivolous or vexatious or is not made in good faith, unless the Ombudsman is satisfied that in the particular circumstances, it is proper to conduct an investigation into a complaint.

If the Ombudsman decides not to undertake or continue an investigation into a complaint he shall inform the complainant of that decision and of his reason.

Notwithstanding section 14, the Ombudsman shall not investigate any matters specified in the Second Schedule.

Procedure to lodge complaint