Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in the view of the Citizens Information Act 2007 Comhairle, the Citizens Information Board will continue to provide resources and supports to information providing Non Governmental Organisations other than the citizens information centres for example community resource centres, centres for the unemployed, youth information centres and so on on the same basis as applied under the Comhairle Act 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7932/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether in establishing Comhairle as the 44th Citizens Information Board, further to the earlier establishment of the non-statutory, area-based Citizens Information Boards and the nationwide Citizens Information Phone Service Board, he risks compromising in the public mind the characteristics of independence and impartiality that are, and have always been the cornerstones of the Citizens Information Movement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7931/07]

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will use his powers to direct the activities of the newly established Citizens Information Board, as provided for in the Citizens Information Act 2007 in such a way as to direct at local level the activities of the area based citizens information services, the citizens information phone service and the National Association of Citizens Information Services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7933/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 82 and 92 together.

The Citizens Information Act 2007 provides for the introduction of a personal advocacy service and for the renaming of Comhairle as the Citizens Information Board. The name has been changed under the Citizens Information Act 2007 to more clearly represent the functions of the organisation and link it more directly to the citizens information services it provides and supports. Under the Comhairle Act 2000, Comhairle — now the Citizens Information Board — had a statutory function to "support the provision of, or, where the Board considers it appropriate, to provide directly, independent information, advice and advocacy services, so as to ensure that individuals have access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating to social services and are referred to the relevant service". To deliver on this function, the Citizens Information Board has developed, funded and supported 42 Citizens Information Services throughout the country and one national Citizens Information Phone Service. These services are limited companies, managed by Voluntary Boards of Management and they provide information services to the public in line with the Comhairle Act, 2000.

The Citizens Information Board will continue to provide services through the network of Citizens Information Services around the country which provide face-to-face service from approximately 250 locations; the Citizens Information Phone Service, which is a LoCall service available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday; andits website, www.citizensinformation.ie. The National Association of Citizens Information Services, NACIS, is a representative body for local and regional information providers within Citizens Information Services, inclusive of Board members, paid employees and volunteers. It has been established with the support of the Citizens Information Board which provides its core funding. NACIS and the Board meet on a regular basis to discuss matters of common interest and will continue to do so. The Board will continue to provide all the services, supports and resources that have been provided to date by Comhairle to non-governmental organisations involved in information provision. The Board will also continue to require that the Citizens Information Services and the Citizens Information Phone Service deliver information, advice and advocacy services to the public in line with the Board's statutory requirements as laid out in the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007. I assure Deputies that there will be no diminution of the services being provided and that the legislation, in fact, provides for an enhanced service to the public including provision of a Personal Advocacy Service.