Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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175. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons to whom each advocacy service provided a service; the issues that were addressed by each advocacy service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10385/15]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of each organisation funded by her Department or agencies under her Department, which provide advocacy services; the total funding to each organisation for year ended 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10388/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services to all citizens on a wide range of public and social services.

One of the functions of the CIB, as defined in the Comhairle Act 2000 and the Citizens Information Act 2007, is to directly provide or support the provision of advocacy services to individuals and in particular to assist those with a disability, to identify and understand their needs and options, in order to secure their entitlement to social services.

One of the main ways in which the Citizens Information Board supports advocacy services to the general public is through its network of 42 Citizens Information Services (CIS’s), where information providers advocate on behalf of their clients mainly in relation to access to public and social services such as social welfare, housing, health and employment. Information providers support their clients to act on their own behalf wherever possible (self-advocacy). They also advocate directly on behalf of their clients through contacting and negotiating with third parties or attending meetings, hearings or appeals.

In 2014, the nationwide network of CISs was allocated funding of some €12.5 million from CIB’s overall budget allocation of €46 million. During 2014, CISs provided an advocacy service to over2,500 people. Overall, 56% of advocacy issues related to social welfare, 22% related to employment issues, 8% to housing issues with the balance relating to health, consumer affairs and moving country. In addition, during the same period, the CIS’s assisted over 7,000 clients with once-off advocacyrequirements.

In 2011, the National Advocacy Service (NAS) was established under the Citizens Information Board to provide an independent, confidential, and free representative advocacy service to vulnerable people with disabilities who cannot self-advocate, while supporting others to use mainstream services. The National Advocacy Service has its national office in Dublin, and provides services through its four regions. Funding of €3.07 million was made available to NAS in 2014 from the CIB.

During 2014, NAS provided an advocacy service to some 1,012 people. This number includes over 340 new cases. Overall, 28% of advocacy cases related to housing issues, 19% related to health issues, 13% related to social welfare and 11% to justice issues, while a further 7% related to court cases regarding children. The remainder involved birth, family and relationship, finance, taxation, education, employment, travel and recreation and bereavement related cases.