Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2017
774. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the minutes taken by the Citizens Information Board in November 2014 regarding the decision to dissolve and replace the Citizens Information services, CIS, and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32941/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has statutory responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).
A Feasibility Study, commissioned by CIB and carried out the Pathfinder, was presented to the Board of CIB in September 2014. Following the Board meeting, a copy of the report was issued to all boards and managers of CIS and MABS services. Feedback was sought from delivery services and channelled through National Association for Citizens Information Services (NACIS), the representative body for Citizens Information Services, National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Management Forum (NMF), the representative bodies for staff working in MABS and for MABS companies respectively. Thirty- two responses were received. On 14 October 2014, the Board of CIB heard submissions on restructuring from NACIS, NEC and NMF representing the boards and staff of CIS and MABS services. The Board discussed the study, the actions now required to advance the study’s recommendations and asked that the Executive report back to the Board at its November meeting with proposed next steps.
At the meeting on the 14 November, it was agreed that the Board will lead the change and that the Board’s decision that change was necessary will be recorded. CIB discussed its next steps and proposed that a Design Group be set up to inform CIB’s consideration of an appropriate organisational model.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
