John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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771. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the planned dissolution and replacement of the citizen's information services falls under the first part of the board's prescribed function, as prescribed in section 7 of the Comhairle Act 2000 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32938/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has statutory responsibility for Citizens Information Services (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). The functions of the Board are set out in Section 7 of the Comhairle Act, 2000, as amended.

Under the legislation, the Board can directly provide, or support the provision of, independent information, advice (including money advice and budgeting) and advocacy services so as to ensure that individuals have access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating to social services and are referred to the relevant services.

Currently, the Board provides financial support for the delivery of these services to a network of ninety three individual local companies.The Board’s decision to change the number of local service delivery partner companies to sixteen regional companies, eight CIS and eight MABS, is an operational decision of the Board relating to how it shall discharge the statutory functions conferred on it.

The changes will bring CIS and MABS organisations more into line with modern public service governance guidelines and requirements where significant State funding is involved. The reduced company structure will better assist CIB in the fulfilment of its statutory obligations, its compliance with the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies, and implementation of recommendations of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

I am satisfied that existing legislation, together with compliance requirements of the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies, underpin the Board’s decision to re-organise the governance arrangements of its service delivery partner companies in the manner set out.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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772. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has satisfied herself that giving full control to the statutory citizen's information board to appoint all persons nominated to serve on the eight proposed regional boards (details supplied) will maintain the necessary independence of CIS as civic institutions between the citizen and the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32939/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The process for selecting board membership of the new sixteen regional boards has not yet been defined by the Citizens Information Board (CIB). Some discussions have taken place on this topic at the regional consultations, held by CIB in May 2017. Further consultations are planned over the summer months on a number of themes, one of which includes recruitment to the sixteen regional company boards and the Local Advisory Committees.

CIB in determining the recruitment process and the selection criteria to be used will have regard to best practice in the area of board appointments. It is the intention of CIB, in line with best practise, to publicly advertise the regional board positions. Expressions of interest will also be sought by the Board from existing Citizens Information Services (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) company board members.

The independence of individual CIS or MABS companies is in no way undermined, or compromised, by the requirement to have appropriate and robust governance arrangements in place, which are compatible with the statutory and financial oversight needs of CIB as funder.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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773. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the person that made decisions on the daily operations of the citizens information board and that provided supervision, support and oversight to the executive there in the 18-month interregnum period between board meetings from February 2015 to July 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32940/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 3 March 2015, eight vacancies, including that of Chairperson, arose on the Citizens Information Board due to the expiration of existing terms of appointment. In the absence of a quorum, Board meetings scheduled for 25th March 2015 and 20 May 2015 did not take place. The Board held meetings in June, October and December 2015, and in February, Julyand October 2016.

Section 13 (1) of the Comhairle Act 2000 provides that there shall be a chief executive officer of the Board and section 13 (2) provides that the chief executive officer shall carry on and manage, and control generally, the administration and business of the Board and perform such other functions ( if any) as may be determined by the Board.

As part of their role the Chief Executive Officer provides ongoing oversight of the daily operations of the executive, making decisions and providing support as required, including during the period specified by the Deputy, from February 2015 to July 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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774. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the details of the minutes taken by the citizens information board in November 2014 regarding the decision to dissolve and replace CIS's and MABS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32941/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has statutory responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).

A Feasibility Study, commissioned by CIB and carried out the Pathfinder, was presented to the Board of CIB in September 2014. Following the Board meeting, a copy of the report was issued to all boards and managers of CIS and MABS services. Feedback was sought from delivery services and channelled through National Association for Citizens Information Services (NACIS), the representative body for Citizens Information Services, National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Management Forum (NMF), the representative bodies for staff working in MABS and for MABS companies respectively. Thirty- two responses were received. On 14 October 2014, the Board of CIB heard submissions on restructuring from NACIS, NEC and NMF representing the boards and staff of CIS and MABS services. The Board discussed the study, the actions now required to advance the study’s recommendations and asked that the Executive report back to the Board at its November meeting with proposed next steps.

At the meeting on the 14 November, it was agreed that the Board will lead the change and that the Board’s decision that change was necessary will be recorded. CIB discussed its next steps and proposed that a Design Group be set up to inform CIB’s consideration of an appropriate organisational model.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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775. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that was given to the issue involved in dissolving and replacing the CIS and MABS by the citizens information board in the period from the November 2014 board meeting to the meeting in October 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32942/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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).

Extensive analysis and consideration of options for restructuring of governance arrangements has taken place over the past number of years, including extensive consultations with stakeholders. A Feasibility Study was commissioned by CIB and carried out by Pathfinder. Pathfinder approached the study with detailed consultations with all stakeholders including local services, representative bodies, local boards, staff, and in the case of CIS’s volunteers.

The Report was presented to the Board of CIB in September 2014. Following the Board meeting, a copy of the report was issued to all boards and managers of CIS and MABS services. Feedback was sought from delivery services countrywide and channelled through National Association for Citizens Information Services (NACIS), the representative body for Citizens Information Services, National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Management Forum (NMF), the representative bodies for staff working in MABS and for MABS companies respectively. Thirty- two responses were received. On 14 October 2014, the Board of CIB heard submissions on restructuring from NACIS, NEC and NMF representing the boards and staff of CIS and MABS services.

On 19 November 2014, the Board of CIB’s Register of Decisions recorded the following entry ‘decision that change is needed in the structure of delivery partner companies was confirmed". The Board also agreed that a Design Group be tasked with presenting options on new organisational models for its consideration.

The work of the Design Group took place in 2015 and recommended restructuring on a regional model basis. On the 5 October 2016, the Board of CIB again heard submissions from NACIS, NEC and NMF in relation to restructuring proposals. On 12 October 2016, having reviewed the output of the Design Group and submissions by the representative bodies, the Board decided to proceed with restructuring on a regional model basis. This decision is recorded in the Register of Board decisions.

The Board established a Restructuring Sub Committee to progress this work and report back to the Board of CIB in January 2017. On 15th February 2017, following detailed discussion on the Report of the Restructuring Sub-Committee, the Board of CIB decided to adopt the Report and proceed with its implementation. The new governance model referred to in the Report comprises of eight regions, with eight CIS companies and eight MABS companies. Acceptance of the restructuring group’s recommendation and CIB’s decision to move forward with this model was entered in the Register of CIB Board decisions.

The decision to change the governance arrangements of CIS and MABS companies has been taken by the statutory Board of CIB after a lengthy period of consultation and detailed consideration of the options and views put forward at all stages. I am confident that the membership of the Board of CIB, which comprises of experienced and competent individuals, representative of a broad spectrum of interests and which includes representatives of the Citizens Information Service and Money Advice and Budgeting Service, has made this important decision in the best interests of the citizens of Ireland, whom the Board serves.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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776. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of times the citizens information board met between November 2014 and October 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32943/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The legislative provisions governing membership of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. The legislation provides that the Board of CIB shall consist of 15 members appointed by the Minister, one of whom shall be designated by the Minister as chairperson and that the quorum for a meeting of the Board shall be 8, or such lesser number (being not less than 5) as the Board may from time to time determine.

There were ten meetings of the Board of CIB during the period November 2014 to October 2016 on the following dates; 19 November 2014, 11 December 2014, 18 February 2015, 22 June 2015, 21 October 2015, 9 December 2015, 17 February 2016, 27 July 2016, 5 October 2016 and 12 October 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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777. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of the 42 citizens information service boards (details supplied) which have adopted resolutions supporting the strategy of their dissolution and replacement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32944/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not available.

The management boards of each Citizens Information Service are separate independent legal entities. The Citizens Information Board does not routinely receive copies of local service delivery partner company board meeting agendas or minutes.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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778. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the citizens information board is disregarding the view of Dáil Éireann (details supplied); her further views on whether the board has her support and the support of her department’s management advisory committee regarding the structuring of citizens information services and MABS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32945/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has statutory responsibility for Citizens Information Services (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) services countrywide. In November 2014, the Board of the Citizens Information Board decided to restructure the local CIS and MABS networks. In October 2016, the Board decided that the new structure should be regionally based. In February 2017, the Board adopted a recommendation that the current structure of ninety three individual local companies would be changed to a sixteen regional company model, comprising eight CIS and eight MABS companies. As a statutory body, the Board has the sole right to make decisions on its day to day operations as it sees fit. It would not be lawful or appropriate for me, as Minister, to seek to intervene in such a decision taken by the Board.

The aim of the change is to improve the effectiveness of the control environment, financial management, and governance of CIS and MABS service networks. I know that CIB has not taken this operational decision lightly. It follows almost five years of analysis and consideration of options and extensive consultation with all stakeholders.

The reorganisation process is expected to take up to two years to complete. An implementation group has been established by CIB to assist with this process, membership of which will evolve in line with specific expertise requirements as the project progresses. CIB has held a number of regional consultations on implementation of the new structure during the month of May, attended by 350 representatives of boards, management, staff and volunteers of local services. Following on from these sessions, CIB in recent days has issued a questionnaire to all board members, staff, managers and volunteers across CIS and MABS companies to capture further views and feedback, particularly from those who, for one reason or another, could not attend the sessions held in May. Consultation is continuing, with CIB planning to hold further focus group meetings over the summer period.

On foot of a recent procurement exercise, CIB is expected to shortly appoint an independent external provider to undertake a full Cost Benefit Analysis on the new regional model.

CIB is seeking to implement the Board’s decision in a consultative way and is making genuine efforts to allay concerns of staff and boards of local services in relation to the operation of the new structure.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.