Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Black and her team. I thank Ms Black for a very comprehensive report. Organisations like the CIB are often taken for granted in terms of the work they do on behalf of the general public. It is only when one steps back and takes time to reflect that one realises the comprehensive nature of that work. I am aware of the enormous physical footprint of the organisation in this country. I am from Navan and I am aware that there are three centres in County Meath. The centre in Navan is right in the middle of the town in a modern office block. It is accessible, visible and the public engages with it. The MABS is particularly valuable. I recall that Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív opened that facility and I attended the opening ceremony. It is a very valuable service that is in close proximity to other State-run services in the centre of Navan town. The people of Navan and County Meath very much appreciate the service provided by the CIB.

I ask Ms Black to provide a breakdown of the public engagement with the service. How much of it is physical, face-to-face engagement in CIB offices and how much is online engagement? The organisation's online presence is an invaluable resource for Members of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, not to mention members of the public. It provides a quick reference point on many issues.

I also ask Ms Black, without breaching anyone's confidence, to give an outline of the type of queries that are dealt with by the organisation. How has that changed in the last decade? I am sure that during the recession there was considerable demand for the financial advice services provided by MABS. This committee has asked for help from the CIB. I ask Ms Black to give us details on the help provided to the public in terms of, for example, enabling ordinary people to understand new legislation and how it will impact their lives.

In summary, I ask for details on the breakdown of online versus face-to-face engagement, the scale and type of queries being dealt with and the impacts on people's lives.