John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

565. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to reduce and-or close Citizens Information services in south Dublin and County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18368/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. 

It provides some services directly to the public and also supports and directly funds an extensive range of services through its service delivery partners including the regionally based Citizens Information Services (CIS) companies, which have responsibility for service delivery in defined areas.

The Dublin South CIS and the South Leinster CIS companies have responsibility for service provision in their geographic areas and continue to provide. I can confirm that neither company has any plans to reduce services in their areas  Both CIS are continuing to respond to queries by telephone and email in order to meet the immediate information, advice and advocacy needs of people arising from loss of work and income, closure of businesses and many other issues of concern to people living in their areas. 

Both CIS companies are carefully monitoring the service requirements in their respective areas, with a view to ensuring they deliver a high-quality information and advisory service to citizens in their respective geographic areas, while adhering to the public health guidelines.

Since 29th June, a small number of Citizens Information Centers have reopened to the public, on an appointment basis and where social distancing can be facilitated in line with current HSE Covid-19 public health advice and Return to Work Safely Protocol.   I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.