Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

From the point of view of the citizen, the Citizens' Information Service and MABS have been very important in communities. The closer they are to communities, the better. When they are taken away, they become more distant and they cannot be accessed. There was a Citizens' Information centre in Ring Terrace in Dublin 8 which was moved to Thomas Street. When it came to elderly people and others trying to access it, it created all sorts of problems in trying to access services.

The point about no change to location in the lifetime of the restructuring is important. Why at the time, in 2009, did the Department of Social Protection transfer responsibilities to the Citizens' Information Board, CIB? It put a lot of responsibility on another organisation to play a role. When that responsibility was passed over, it was noted:

This notice is to inform you that the Minister for Social & Family Affairs has signed the Commencement Order to give effect from ... 2009 ... which extend the functions of the [CIB] to include the provision of the Money Advice & Budgeting Service. ... MABS will be a separate distinct service within the Citizens Information Board. There will be no change in the status of the independent MABS companies with voluntary boards of management nor in the employment status of their employees that provide the local services.

It is quite clear from 2009 what the roles of the CIB and MABS were and that they were distinct. There must be more clarity around why this proposal is being made and why it has started already. It is my understanding that the process has started already. Maybe that should be put on hold for a period until we go through this process.

In 2014 and 2015 all the Citizens' Information services and MABS were tested and received a gold star, which is a service delivery quality mark. I do not know where the questions are coming from. If the services are being provided in the way that has been done for the last period and they are working, we should maintain them and put more work into them to build on them and provide better services.