Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress with the programme for Government commitment to invest further in the citizens information board to enable it to engage advocacy officials to assist people with disabilities in accessing their entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20143/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The development of advocacy services for people with disabilities remains a priority for my Department. In order to expand advocacy provision for people with disabilities 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. In this regard 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 €1.9 million was allocated in 2007 for the development of a Personal Advocacy Service and for the implementation of the Disability Sectoral Plan. In line with the commitment to invest further in the Citizens Information Board, funding of €1.8 million was provided in 2008 for service developments which include advocacy services, bringing funding to €6.1 million for 2008.

The Community and Voluntary Sector Advocacy programme has to date developed and funded 47 advocacy projects. The Citizen Information Board is monitoring the programme to ensure that the projects are operating in accordance with the Board's advocacy guidelines. It is planned to undertake a full evaluation of the Community and Voluntary Sector Advocacy programme in 2010. An organisational structure has been developed by the Citizens Information Board to meet the needs of the Personal Advocacy Service (PAS). The appointment to the new post of Director of PAS will be made shortly and the service will be launched when the Director has taken up the position, recruited the staff and is satisfied that the structures, resources and facilities are in place to allow the service to commence operation. The Personal Advocacy Service (PAS) will then be subject to continuing review when operational.

The further investment in the Citizens Information Board's advocacy programmes and PAS will depend on the outcome of the evaluation and review and the level of demand for advocacy services.