Ms Sinéad Conefrey:

Senator Higgins referred to a core point on advocacy. She mentioned NAS. I wish to clarify that NAS is the national advocacy service. Initially, the service began as a disability advocacy programme. Under the programme, a disability advocate was placed in the citizens information services. The programme operated from within the citizens information services with a steering group in place. Then it was moved to a regional structure and local advisory groups were put in place.

This is now the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities.

Senator Higgins linked the role of advocacy with democracy. The Citizens Information Service provides an advocacy service to clients whereby we empower them to seek their rights and entitlements. In many cases this involves a social welfare appeal where we are going before the very people who fund our service. It is an extensive and detailed part of the work that goes on within the services and it is important to recognise that there is a link there. Very often, we are going against our funders in terms of appealing decisions that have been made. We also assist in cost savings, however, by stepping in before it comes to an appeal by way of reviewing decisions and submitting detailed documentation and evidence. It is very much an evidence-based approach to providing an advocacy service.

The Making an Impact report, which was submitted to members, details the work that goes on within the services. It is an evidence-based report that details the works and goings on of the Citizens Information Service, including the voluntary boards and the volunteers who are performing various roles within the service such as reception, information and so on. The report takes the reader through real-life scenarios. It is important to mention that there is an international dimension to the Citizens Information Service, which is also detailed in Making an Impact. We can come back to that if we have time. I am conscious that there are a lot of questions today.