Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Pathfinder has been mentioned extensively. I note that the Pathfinder report said the current structures are working well in respect of exercising control of legal and financial compliance.

The Pathfinder report also states that the structures that support core processes and local boards are established and work well. The report also states that the staff resources centrally of the Citizens Information Board, CIB, have been reduced. We have heard that the number of staff has been reduced from 92 to 74. The only palpable change in a system that seemed to be working is that there has been a reduction of staff at central level. The approach appears to be one of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut given that we have seen a reduction of almost 20 staff at central level. There are many other issues identified in Pathfinder report but one issue is that the increased focus on compliance with so many companies is proving to be an unsustainable burden, given the number of boards and reduction in staff. The key point is the reduction of the CIB's staff resources of resources. I would like the witnesses to comment on that aspect.

I also wish to comment on the advocacy element, which was a point that was raised by National Association of Citizens Information Services, NACIS, It raised the interesting question of democracy. I am referring to the question of social inclusion as a core mandate of this service. What is interesting about the boards as they are currently constituted is that we are looking at a modelling of social inclusion. It is not that they simply deliver a service to people that helps them to do something, rather it is a modelling of social inclusion to an effect. Reference was made to volunteers but I would like one of the witnesses to elaborate specifically on the question of social inclusion and the democratic component for a volunteer in not only delivering a service, but being part of a board.