Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 November 2005
139 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in view of the need for additional funding to develop and extend the services of the Balbriggan citizens’ information centre for 2006, the necessary finance will be made available to continue this much needed service. [32160/05]
View answerMy Department funds Comhairle, the statutory agency responsible for providing people with access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating to social services. Comhairle supports and funds a network of citizens' information services to provide information, advice and advocacy services on a wide range of civil and public services.
In 2005, Comhairle provided direct funding of €8,223,388 to citizens' information centres, CICs, an increase of 107% since 2001. Balbriggan CIC is managed by Fingal, north county, citizens' information service, which also provides information services from Swords, Skerries, Malahide and Donaghmede. Swords CIC provides a full-time information service and the other centres provide part-time services. In total, Fingal citizens' information service provides 92 hours service weekly in north County Dublin. Funding to Fingal citizens' information service has increased from €164,210 in 2003 to €257,405 in 2005.
Balbriggan CIC is open 21 hours per week. It is staffed by one part-time information officer, funded by Comhairle. The centre has recently recruited three additional staff under various Government employment support schemes and two volunteer workers. My Department has been informed by Comhairle that a proposal has been received from Fingal, north county, citizens' information service in regard to the development of a full-time information service in Balbriggan. The proposal will be considered in the light of the demand for services in the area, the development needs of the Balbriggan centre and the budgetary resources available for citizens' information services in 2006.
