David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a director has been appointed to the new personal advocacy service provided for under the Citizens Information Act 2007; when this service will begin operating; if the staffing and structures are in place; the amount of money that has been allocated to Comhairle for the development of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16929/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Citizens Information Board began a process in 2004 of engaging the community and voluntary sector in the provision of advocacy services to people with disabilities and also produced advocacy guidelines to inform and guide organisations in the development of advocacy services. Funding of €1million was allocated to the Citizens Information Board in 2005 to enable the introduction of the new service, an additional €1.4 million was allocated in 2006 to develop the work further and additional funding of €1.9 million was allocated in 2007 for the development of a personal advocacy service and for the implementation of the Disability Sectoral Plan.

An organisational structure has been developed by the Citizens Information Board to meet the needs of the Personal Advocacy Service. Discussions between my Department, the Department of Finance and the Citizens Information Board are ongoing in relation to these structures and the additional staffing resources required for the provision of the service.

The post of Director of the Personal Advocacy Service was advertised in December 2007 and the Board is currently in the final phases of the recruitment process. It is envisaged that the new service will be up and running in 2008.