the complaints. The AOB contacts all public social insurance carriers and offices of the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) directly; furthermore, it is sometimes necessary to also involve the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Initiated investigative proceedings regarding federal administration authorities in 2012 – focal points* 2011 % Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection 1,246 27.53 Federal Ministry of the Interior 1,116 24.66 Federal Ministry of Justice 678 14.98 Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology 393 8.68 Federal Ministry of Finance 312 6.89 Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth 282 6.23 Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management 195 4.31 Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture 85 1.88 Federal Ministry of Science and Research 75 1.66 Federal Ministry of Health (excl. health and accidental insurance) 59 1.30 Federal Ministry of Defence and Sports 45 0.99 Federal Chancellery 21 0.46 Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs 19 0.42 4,526 100.00 TOTAL *Three cases did not fall into the remit of any of the Ministries and are therefore maintained as files to be handled by the Chairperson of the AOB Administration of the judiciary: Number of complaints rose slightly In 2012, 678 complaints regarding the judiciary were addressed to the competent Ombudswoman Gertrude Brinek; this was 15% of all investigative proceedings. This means that the number of complaints rose slightly compared to the previous year (2011: 646). The AOB's remit covers administration of the judiciary, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the penal system and investigations of delays in court proceedings. Numerous complaints related to court rulings by the independent judiciary, which are not within the mandate of the AOB. 14