Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this quite complex issue. The CIB continues to work closely with the board of south Leinster CIS to support the region and to ensure that the delivery of high quality services to citizens remains a priority.

I can confirm that south Leinster CIS is continuing to provide citizens information services to the citizens of Wicklow through the CIC offices located in Arklow and Bray. However, as the Deputy has rightly pointed out, there are difficulties in respect of transport services. Services have continued to be offered throughout the pandemic and will continue to be available through a combination of offices in Arklow and Bray for drop-in appointments and phone-based services. The latter have been particularly successful in ensuring south Leinster CIS continued to support the people of County Wicklow over what has been a very difficult delivery environment since March 2020.

The CIB will continue discussions with south Leinster CIS regarding the future delivery of services and the development of proposals in identifying possible premises including costings and an outline of potential works that might be needed to make these premises suitable for the delivery of services in Wicklow town. The CIB and the regional CIS companies decide on how their funding budgets are allocated and these decisions are not a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.

However, the Deputy has rightly outlined that Wicklow is the county town and that it is a service that was there. These discussions should continue and I will bring his proposals back to the senior Minister. I understand that she has given an allocation of funding and this is an issue, therefore, that has really to do with the Citizens Information Board. The Deputy has made a very strong case that this service would be located back in Wicklow town and I will bring that case back to the Minister.

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