15 new permanent positions In order to be able to fulfil the additional competences, in 2012, the AOB was allocated 15 new permanent positions and had a total of 74 permanent positions in the federal personnel budget (2011: 59 permanent positions). This means that the AOB is the smallest supreme body of the Republic of Austria. With part-time staff, persons working reduced weekly hours, administrative internships and staff posted from other local and regional authorities, 90 persons on average are working at the AOB. The 48 members of the six Commissions as well as the 34 members and the substitute members of the Human Rights Advisory Council do not count as AOB staff members. Citizen-friendly communication Communication with the Public • 213 consultation days with about 1,100 personal contacts • 7,567 people contacted the AOB personally or by phone • 15,036 people wrote to the AOB • 26,232 documents comprised the AOB's correspondence • 10,825 letters & e-mails were sent to government authorities • 90,000 hits were registered on the AOB website Citizens appreciate straightforward contact These figures lead one to assume that broad segments of the population evidently welcome the fact that it is very easy to contact the AOB personally, by phone or in writing. The members’ consultation days in the Laender are also very popular. Citizens have the opportunity to speak to a member of the AOB personally about their matter of concern. In the year under review, 213 consultation days with more than 1,000 personal discussions were held. Compared to the previous year, fewer consultation days were held (2011: 276); the decrease was due to the many tasks that had to be completed within the scope of the reorganisation of the AOB. In accordance with the demographics, the largest number of consultation days was held in Vienna (52). 20