Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and appreciate how forensic she has been in outlining the background to it.

The Citizens Information Board is a statutory body established by the Oireachtas. In addition to its statutory responsibilities relating to information and advocacy service provision, it has statutory responsibility for the countrywide networks of Citizens Information services and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS. The Citizens Information Board has been allocated €57.410 million by the Department to fund its activities and those of its service delivery partners in 2018.

In November 2014 the board of the Citizens Information Board decided to restructure local Citizens Information service and MABS networks.

In October 2016, the board decided the new structure should be regionally based. In February 2017, the board adopted a recommendation that the current structure of 93 individual local companies would be changed to a 16 regional company model, comprising eight citizens information service, CIS, and eight Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, companies. The changes are being made at local company board level only.

The valuable work carried out by employees and volunteers working in CIS and employees of MABS will continue as heretofore to the same excellent standards. The staff and boards across the CIS and MABS networks have been assured by the Citizens Information Board, CIB, that there will be no change to the terms and conditions of staff, no diminution of services for those who use them and no closure of service delivery points. I am aware there has been some opposition to the board's decision by a small number of objectors, as this has been raised both in the Chamber and at meetings held by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the wake of the CIB's decision. I am also aware of the cost-benefit analysis of the new regional company model, which was provided by the CIB to the Oireachtas joint committee on 21 September 2017, and which indicates strong support for the decision of the board to proceed to implement the new governance arrangements.

The governance structure of the CIB and MABS network is a matter for the board of the CIB. It is not a matter for the Minister or the House. As a statutory body, the board of the CIB has the sole right to make decisions on its day-to-day operations as it sees fit. The board is clear this change is necessary to ensure the CIB and the delivery of services it funds adequately meet the requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies and the compliance requirements of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, given the significant level of taxpayers' money involved.

It must be remembered that CIB and MABS services are 100% State funded. The aim of the change being implemented by the board of the CIB is to improve the effectiveness of the control environment, financial management and governance of the CIS and MABS networks because they are entirely funded by the Exchequer. The change is also about consolidating managerial and administrative efforts, focusing on front-line service delivery to citizens, improving the consistency and quality of service delivery and, where possible, extending services to and for those who need them.

The CIB executive is currently implementing the decision taken by its board, as it is required to do. An implementation group, with cross-sectoral representation was set up to assist with the transition to the new governance model. The CIB has, and will continue to, provide the necessary information and support to each of the local companies and their chairpersons and boards throughout the transitional period. Information sessions have already been held for chairpersons for the 38 companies transitioning to the regional companies in phase 1. Further sessions will be held for companies transitioning in the remaining phases. It is expected the full transition to the 16 new companies will take up to two years to complete. All companies will be properly supported by the CIB every step of the way.

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