Key Figures 2010 Data and Facts In 2010 a total of 15,265 people contacted the Austrian Ombudsman Board (AOB) regarding their concerns. Notwithstanding the fact that numbers were already high in recent years, this constituted a significant increase: the number of cases in which individuals felt they had concrete concerns about improper treatment by an authority or inadequate information rose to 11,198, an increase of 8% (2009: 10,320). Performance Record 2010 2009 Complaints regarding administration 11,198 10,320 Investigative proceedings initiated 6,613 6,235 Investigative proceedings not initiated 4,585 4,084 AOB challenges to statutory orders 0 1 4,067 4,533 15,265 14,853 Complaints outside AOB's area of responsibility TOTAL number of citizen's concerns handled AOB busier than ever The AOB initiated investigative proceedings in 6,613 cases; a 6% increase over last year (2009: 6,235), i.e. 59.1% of all complaints about authorities led to investigative proceedings. In 4,585 instances, although the matter did fall within the AOB's remit, it was evident from the outset that there had been no maladministration. Just over 4,000 instances involved matters beyond the AOB's sphere of responsibility. In these instances, the AOB provided additional information, including legal information. Increase in investigative proceedings The AOB's area of responsibility covers all public administration, i.e. all authorities, administrative bodies, agencies and departments responsible for implementing Federal law. Thus its realm of responsibility extends well beyond the Federal ministries. It includes for example Austro Control (air traffic management), social security institutions, and the Federal Asylum Office. In 2010 the AOB carried out a total of 4,125 investigative proceedings in matters involving Federal administration. 4,125 investigative proceedings on Federal Administration 7