Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it has been agreed to change the name of the organisation Comhairle; the reason for such a change; and if the making of this decision has been the sole delaying factor in stopping the Comhairle Bill 1999 from being debated in Dáil Éireann. [17549/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the consent of his Department was sought for the name change of the Comhairle organisation and the proposed re-branding of the agency; if his Department's approval was given; if he has received from Comhairle an estimate of the cost of the exercise; his views on whether this is the best use of public money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17363/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 32 together.

Comhairle was established under the Comhairle Act, 2000. Its functions include the provision of independent information, advice and advocacy in relation to social services. Comhairle also has a particular responsibility to assist people with disabilities to identify their needs and access their entitlements.

Comhairle carries out its functions in the provision of information primarily through a nationwide network of Citizen Information Centres (CICs). The CICs are voluntary bodies which provide full-time or part-time information services to the public at some 235 locations throughout the country.

Over the past three years, Comhairle has engaged in developing a strategy to strengthen the public profile of the information services provided by the CICs, by the Citizen Information Phone Service and via the OASIS website. A key element of strengthening its profile is the development of the 'Citizens Information' brand as a common identifier for all three services. Comhairle engaged in discussion with the CICs about raising the profile of the information services and about proposals for the redesign of the Citizens Information brand to achieve this purpose.

The approval of my Department is not required for the adoption of a new logo and brand for these services. Comhairle is responsible for providing greater access to and public awareness of information services on social entitlements and this initiative is in keeping with that responsibility. Furthermore, the adoption of a new logo and brand is a matter for the CICs themselves in consultation with Comhairle as the main funder of their services.

The Board of Comhairle must take into consideration the cost implications of such an undertaking, whether such costs are justified and if they can be met from within existing resources. Any additional resources sought by Comhairle would fall to be considered by my Department in the context of the normal process of the annual estimates and budgetary process.

I have asked the Board of Comhairle to consider whether its name should be changed or adapted in the light of the strong collaborative link between the statutory body and the CICs. The response of the Board and a number of suggestions in this regard are under consideration in my Department. If a name change or amendment is considered appropriate, following consultation with the Board of Comhairle, it is my intention to bring forward the necessary legislative amendment in the context of the Comhairle (Amendment) Bill.

The Bill, which was published in September 2004, seeks to amend the Comhairle Act 2000 so as to confer additional and enhanced functions on Comhairle involving, primarily, the introduction of a personal advocacy service for people with disabilities. Meetings have been held with a number of disability interested groups, in the context of my Department's obligations under the Disability Allowance Act 2005. The Bill is on the Government's legislative programme for the current parliamentary session. I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention to have the Bill progressed at an early date so that the personal advocacy service, which is a key element of the Government's National Disability Strategy, can be established by Comhairle without delay.