Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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54. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the restructuring of the Citizen Information services and MABS companies; when this decision was made; the person or body that will make the decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8301/18]

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 was taken by the statutory Board of the Citizens Information Board. In November 2014, the CIB Board decided to restructure the local CIS and MABS networks. In October 2016, the Board decided that the new structure should be regionally based. On 15 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. The CIB Executive is currently implementing the decision taken by the Board, as it is required to do. An Implementation Group, with cross sectoral representation, has been set up to assist with the transition to the new governance model. CIB has, and will continue to, provide the necessary information and support to each of the local companies and their Chairpersons and Boards, throughout the transitional period.

Information sessions have already been held for chairpersons of the 38 companies transitioning to the regional companies in Phase 1. This month, consultation sessions were held with CIS Development Managers and MABS Money Advice Co-ordinators regarding the preparations needed to transfer to the new companies and to address any queries they had.

Further information sessions will be held for the companies transitioning in the remaining phases. It is expected that the full transition to the 16 new companies will take up to two years to complete.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.