David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to Parliamentary Question No. 8 of 30 April 2009, the number of advocacy resource officers currently employed across the citizens information network; the location of same; the length of time each has held their position; if the positions are permanent; if more are to be created; the way she has been working with the Citizens Information Board to develop the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20883/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Citizens Information Board provides advocacy through the Citizens Information Services focusing on access to services, welfare entitlements and employment rights. This type of mainstream advocacy is also open to people with disabilities. The advocacy capacity is strengthened through the provision of Advocacy Resource Officers (ARO) who work to build the capacity of information providers within the Citizens Information Services to advocate on behalf of clients.

There were nine Advocacy Resource Officers employed across the Citizens Information Service on fixed-term contracts of varying duration. With regard to the contracts, three expired in quarter one 2009, a further three expire in quarter two 2009, and the remaining three will conclude in the first quarter of 2010. The locations and the duration of their contracts are set out at Appendix A. The Citizens Information Board is currently examining the role of the Advocacy Resource Officer with a view to providing a permanent structure to support advocacy services across the Citizens Information network.

Appendix A - Advocacy Resource Officers (ARO)