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Money Advice and Budgeting Service

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Ceisteanna (633)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

633. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a vote taken in Dáil Éireann on 30 March 2017 which called upon the Citizens Information Board to desist from the dismantling and replacement of the networks of independent Citizens Information Services and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS; if her attention has been further drawn to a report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection issued on 1 June 2017 which recommended a similar action; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the board is persisting with the strategy of which both Dáil Éireann and the joint committee disapproves; and her understanding and the understanding communicated by her Department to the board of the role of Dáil Éireann in matters of public administration, particularly in circumstances in which funds voted by Dáil Éireann are involved. [6960/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body established by the Oireachtas. In addition to its own statutory responsibilities in relation to information and advocacy service provision, it has statutory responsibility for the countrywide networks of Citizens Information Services (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). CIB has been allocated €57.410 million to fund its activities and that of its service delivery partners for 2018.

In November 2014, the Board of the Citizens Information Board decided to restructure the local CIS and MABS networks. In October 2016, the Board decided that the new structure should be regionally based. In February 2017, the Board adopted a recommendation that the current structure of ninety three individual local companies would be changed to a sixteen regional company model, comprising eight CIS and eight MABS companies.

The changes are being made at local company board level only. The valuable work carried out by employees and volunteers working in CIS services and employees of MABS services will continue as heretofore. The staff and boards throughout the CIS and MABS networks have been assured by CIB that there will be no change to the terms and conditions of staff, no diminution of services for those who use them and no closure of service delivery points.

I am aware that there has been opposition to the Board’s decision by a small number of objectors as these have been raised in the Dáil and at meetings of the Joint Oireachtas Committee (JOC) on Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the wake of the decision. I am also aware of the Cost Benefit Analysis on the new regional company model which was provided by CIB to the JOC on 21 September 2017 and which indicates strong support for the decision of the Board to proceed to implement the new governance arrangements.

The governance structure of the CIS and MABS network is a matter for the Board of CIB. As a statutory body, the Board has the sole right to make decisions on its day to day operations as it sees fit. The Board is clear that this change is necessary so that CIB, and the delivery services it funds, adequately meet the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and the compliance requirements of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, given the significant level of taxpayers money involved.

The aim of this change by the Board of CIB is to improve the effectiveness of the control environment, financial management and governance of CIS and MABS networks, which are 100% State-funded. It is also about consolidating managerial and administrative efforts, focussing on front line service delivery to citizens, improving the consistency and quality of service delivery and, where possible, extending services for those who rely on them.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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