Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
189. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a service (details supplied) which has been closed since the start of the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23652/22]
View answerThe Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS). CIB provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres, including South Leinster CIS which encompasses Co. Wicklow.
In March 2020, the Board of South Leinster CIS made the decision to close the Wicklow town Citizens Information Centre (CIC) office as part of their COVID 19 response. The decision to close any office within the CIS network is a matter for the relevant CIS Board as they are responsible for their region’s service delivery. On 6 December 2021, the South Leinster CIS Regional Manager on behalf of the Board informed CIB that they had made the decision to discontinue services in their Wicklow town office due to health and safety concerns. The Board had undertaken an internal assessment of the premises and identified that they were unsuitable under a number of areas, including the issue of lone working. The Information Officer previously based in Wicklow CIC has worked supporting citizens of Wicklow from Bray CIC since March 2020.
An office space in the centre of Wicklow town was considered in 2021. However the premises required substantial financial investment before it could be utilised. Recently an alternative outreach office space was identified in Wicklow Town. However, the Board of South Leinster CIS has made the decision not to proceed with this outreach at present. CIB is engaging with South Leinster CIS to ensure the needs of Wicklow residents are met.
Citizens Information Services continue to be available in Wicklow in Arklow and Bray. Arklow CIC is open for drop in callers on Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Appointments are also available. Callers can also ring the service Monday to Friday with their queries from 9am to 5pm. Bray CIC is open for drop in callers on Mondays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Callers can also ring the service Monday to Friday with their queries from 9am to 5pm. Appointments are also available. Both CIB and the Board of South Leinster CIS are committed to the continued ongoing delivery of high-quality services to the people of county Wicklow.
