Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also value the important work carried out by employees of the citizens information service, or CIS. I acknowledge the role they play in providing people with free, quality and independent information, advice and advocacy services throughout the country. It is important to point out that employees of the CIS are not employees of my Department nor are they public servants. They are employees of independent companies that provide important services on behalf of the Citizens Information Board, CIB, which are delivered under a service level agreement between the companies and CIB. CIB itself is funded via an Estimate agreed as part of the annual budget process.

Last summer, a funding request for an 11% pay increase for employees of the citizens information service 2024 was submitted to my Department. This followed a non-binding Workplace Relations Commission process that involved SIPTU and the citizens information service employers group. However, there was no involvement of CIB in the Workplace Relations Commission process, nor was my Department aware of this pay request or its scale in advance. Given the scale of the increase, it is important that all relevant parties were involved in this process from an early stage. The Citizens Information Board has informed my Department that SIPTU and the citizens information service employers group attended a further WRC process in February where the matter was referred to the Labour Court, a date for which has recently been set for 14 June. This process is ongoing and my Department is monitoring the situation closely. If a request for an increased budget provision is formally submitted to my Department following the process, my officials will consider it carefully and engage with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with a view to determining if a Supplementary Estimate can be provided.

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