John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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265. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on consultations for MABS and Citizens Information Services in the context of restructuring plans by the Citizens Information Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47531/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In February 2017, the Board of Citizens Information Board (CIB) decided to change the governance model from ninety three local Citizens Information Services (CIS) and Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) companies to a new sixteen regional board model, comprising eight CIS and eight MABS companies.

CIB has established an implementation group to progress the change. The group will have a local rolling membership element in order to harness the necessary skills and expertise as the regional structure is rolled out.

As part of its communications campaign, since the decision was made, CIB has undertaken 14 regional consultations and a series of focus groups, to examine and discuss some of the key aspects of implementing the new sixteen board model. Almost 600 people representative of local company Boards, management, staff and volunteers of local CIS and MABS services have attended. All attendees had an opportunity to raise any concerns they had about service delivery under the new model. CIB reports that the regional consultations were well received and there was considerable support for, and constructive discussion about, the change.

The regional consultation costs incurred by CIB amounted to € 28,263. This includes €17,348 in respect of room hire costs and independent facilitator costs of €10,915. Where incurred, the costs of travel and subsistence of attendees is borne by respective local CIS or MABS services, which are in turn entirely funded by CIB. Details of such costs in respect of individual companies are not readily available.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.