Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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699. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has considered the submission by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, regarding the proposals to replace local voluntary MABS companies with regional companies; the rationale for this proposal; if she will reconsider this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42334/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In February 2017, the Board of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) decided to restructure its governance arrangements to a regional model comprising sixteen companies, 8 CIS and8 MABS companies. The aim of the change is to improve the effectiveness of the control environment, financial management and governance of CIS and MABS service networks and service delivery standards and consistency. This operational decision follows five years of analysis and consideration of options and extensive consultation with all stakeholders.

Since the Board’s decision, CIB has held regional consultation with representatives of the CIS and MABS networks. In May, 300 representatives of staff, management, and volunteers, as well as Chairpersons and representatives of local CIS and MABS services attended these facilitated sessions. During the summer months, 238 people attended 8 Focus Groups hosted by CIB, at which service delivery strategy, board structures and linkages, and staff roles under the new sixteen company model were discussed. On 2^ndOctober, a further focus group was held by CIB, specifically for volunteers, which was attended by 35 volunteers from across CIS services.

As a statutory body, the Board has the sole right to make decisions on its day to day operations as it sees fit. Any suggestions regarding proposals for alternative governance models are therefore a matter for the Board of CIB.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.