Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the reconfiguration of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1062/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice service) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through a network of delivery partners which includes 51 local Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) and 42 local Citizens Information Services (CIS). In 2016, the CIB has been allocated a budget of €50m of which some €17.6 million is allocated to the MABS network of companies.

CIB commissioned a study to determine the feasibility of greater organisational integration of MABS and CIS companies to facilitate improved governance arrangements. The study, undertaken by Pathfinder, identified a number of options and the Board of CIB subsequently tasked a Design Group with outlining and recommending possible new structural models, using the feasibility study as the key resource to inform the process. The proposed option identified by the Design Group is now to be considered by the Board of CIB over the coming months. I expect the Board will make a formal proposal to my Department on the matter in due course.