Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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642. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 591 to 593, inclusive, of 30 January 2018, the person who made the decision to restructure the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, and Citizens Information Service, CIS; when this decision was taken; if it was a departmental directive or a decision by the board of CIB; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7093/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory body established by the Oireachtas. In addition to its own statutory responsibilities in relation to information and advocacy service provision, it has statutory responsibility for the countrywide networks of Citizens Information Services (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).

The decision to restructure the governance arrangements of the CIS and MABS companies from 93 individual service delivery companies to an eight region model, having one CIS and one MABS company in each, was taken by the statutory Board of the Citizens Information Board.

As a statutory body, the Board has the sole right to make decisions on its day to day operations as it sees fit. The Board’s decision followed a lengthy period of consultation and detailed consideration of the options and views put forward at all stages. I am satisfied that the membership of the Board of CIB, which comprises 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, made this decision in the best interests of the citizens of Ireland, whom the Board serves.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.