Citizens Information Services Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 January 2018

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

Ceisteanna (617)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

617. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the representative body for supporting Citizens Information Services namely National Association of Citizens Information Services, will continue to be funded by Citizens Information Services going forward; if the national executive committee which represents Money Advice and Budgeting Service staff is being retained under the current restructuring proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3487/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The National Association of Citizens Information Services (NACIS) represents the boards, staff and volunteers of the 42 Citizens Information Services. The Citizens Information Board has allocated €55,000 to NACIS to fund its activities for 2018.

NACIS has commissioned a review to help inform its future role, following the restructuring of governance arrangements which is underway across the Citizens Information Services and will result in a reduction of the number of CIS boards from 42 to 8 regional boards.

Following that review, CIB will engage with NACIS in regard to its future arrangements.

The MABS National Executive Committee (NEC), is the staff representative body of Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) local companies and is not funded by the Citizens Information Board.

Any decision on its retention is a matter for the staff of the local MABS companies.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 618 answered with Question No. 609.