Vol. 465 No. 6
244 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of offices of the National Social Services Board; the location of these offices; the funding of the board for each of the past ten years; and the plans, if any, he has to alter the role or services of the board. [10086/96]
I have no plans at present to alter the role of or the services provided by the National Social Service Board which will continue to carry out its functions in accordance with the National Social Service Board Act, 1984. The transfer of responsibility for the board to my Department since last June will not affect its status or its day to day functions in any way.
The Deputy will already be aware of my conviction of the need for all citizens to have access to an independent community information service operating independently from statutory or official information providers. The Programme for A Government of Renewal contains a commitment to overhaul the facilities for community information, building on the network already in existence in both the voluntary and statutory sectors. The role of the NSSB will be central in meeting that commitment.
The funding provided to the board by my Department in 1995 was £903,047 (from June 1995) which included an additional £250,000 for a computerisation project. The 1996 allocation of £2,070,000 includes an additional £600,000 for the further development of citizens' information centres. Information on funding for the period prior to 1995 is a matter for the Department of Health.
There are currently 83 citizens' information centres registered with the NSSB and they are located as follows:
Abbeyleix, County Laois
Ardee, County Louth
Arklow, County Wicklow
Ashbourne, County Meath
Athlone, County Westmeath
Athy, County Kildare
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballyhaunis, County Mayo
Ballyshannon, County Donegal
Bantry, County Cork
Blackpool, Cork
Blackrock, Cork
