Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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452. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she was notified of a change in policy in relation to a service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25668/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS). CIB provides funding to eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. Each CIS is a limited company overseen by a board of directors and makes decisions independently on the delivery of services in their regions.

Volunteers have not provided any information provision role in Citizens Information Services for over two years. The updates and changes to information, advice and advocacy that have taken place during the past two years have been unprecedented.

My Department therefore understands that CIB and the CIS have set up a Volunteer Strategy Working Group, which is currently working on proposals regarding the future role of volunteers in the Citizens Information Services. Recommendations from this group will inform CIB and CIS of the most suitable way to re-engage volunteers to support the services and deliver information, advice, and advocacy to the public.

The future role of volunteers is an operational matter for the respective CIS companies and not a matter for Ministerial decision.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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453. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the attention of her Department has been drawn to the closure of the Citizens Information Centre in Cobh in east County Cork, despite there being a ten-year lease on the property since 2020; the reason for this closure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25719/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory independent body as set out in the Comhairle Act 2010 which operates under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. CIB provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres, including South Munster CIS, which encompasses Cobh. These eight companies are fully responsible for the delivery of services and all related operational matters including office opening hours in their respective regions.

My Department has been informed that the Cobh CIC office is currently open three mornings per week with an Information Officer in attendance. Phone and email queries from the Cobh area are dealt with Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm. Face to face appointments are offered as required in Cork city CIC and also in Youghal CIC. Appointments at the Cobh office can be facilitated for customers who may face challenges attending at Cork or Youghal.

South Munster CIS is currently reviewing its service footprint to better support the public across the South Munster Region.

Each CIS company is responsible for all matters and decisions relating to its staff and operations, including how it delivers its services to citizens.

Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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454. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the attention of her Department has been drawn to the decision by the Citizens Information Centre to reduce the number of volunteers in the citizens information office in County Cork from 230 to 100 for the entire country; the rationale for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25720/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS). CIB provides funding to eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres.

Each CIS is a limited company overseen by a board of directors and makes decisions independently on the delivery of services in their regions. Decisions regarding the delivery of services in Cork are therefore entirely a matter for the Board of the South Munster CIS.

Volunteers have not provided an information provision role in Citizens Information Services for over two years. The updates and changes to information, advice and advocacy that have taken place during the past two years have been unprecedented.

My Department therefore understands that CIB and the CIS have set up a Volunteer Strategy Working Group, which is currently working on proposals regarding the future role of volunteers in the Citizens Information Services. Recommendations from this group will inform CIB and CIS of the most suitable way to re-engage volunteers to support the services and deliver information, advice, and advocacy to the public.

The South Munster CIS Regional Manager recently invited all former volunteers to a briefing session and has sought expressions of interest from potential volunteers.

The future of the role of volunteers is not a ministerial decision but entirely an operational matter for CIB and its regional companies.