Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the Money Advice and Budgeting Service has been assigned to the Citizen Information Board; if not, when this will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16640/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2009 the Government announced its decision to assign responsibility for the MABS to the Citizens Information Board. The necessary legislative provision has been made in Part 4 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2008.

The legislation provides for the amendment of the Citizens Information Acts 2000 to 2007 to extend the functions of the Citizens Information Board to include responsibilities in relation to the provision of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service. The legislation provides that the MABS will be a separate distinct service within the Citizens Information Board. There will be no change in the status of the independent MABS companies with voluntary boards of management nor in the employment status of their employees that provide the local services throughout the country. Part 4 of the legislation will be brought into effect by way of a commencement order to allow for the orderly transfer of responsibility for the MABS from the Department of Social and Family Affairs to the Citizens Information Board.

The Department is working closely with the Citizens Information Board to complete the transition arrangements. The project is being overseen by a Steering Committee comprising officials from the Department and the Citizens Information Board. It is envisaged that a six months period up to July 2009 will be required to complete the transfer arrangements. I have been advised that the project is progressing well and is on schedule for completion in early July.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the integration of the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office of Social Inclusion into her Department has been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16641/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2009 the Government announced that the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion are to be integrated within the Department of Social and Family Affairs. The Government's decision was informed by the findings of a review of the Combat Poverty Agency which was undertaken on foot of a Government Decision on the 6th of June 2007.

The necessary legislative provision has been made in Part 5 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008. The legislation provides for the dissolution of the Combat Poverty Agency, the transfer of the Agency's staff, assets and liabilities to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and for the preparation of final accounts. Part 5 is to be brought into effect by way of a commencement order to allow for completion of the main transition arrangements.

The Department is working with the Board and staff of the Agency in implementing a plan for the transition.. The project is being overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by the Secretary General of the Department and comprised of members of the Board and staff of the Agency and senior officials of the Department. It is envisaged that the period up to 1st July 2009 is required for implementation of the transition plan I have been advised that implementation is progressing well and is on schedule for completion by the deadline of 1st July 2009.