Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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483. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the structure of the volunteer strategy working group established by the Citizens Information Board and Citizens Information service in light of the decision of the Citizens Information Board to no longer use volunteers in the number of offices and outreach services that have been closed in the past two years; if she will identify all those that will sit on the group; if all geographical areas are represented on the group membership; the timeline involved in the group’s work and the remit of its role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27968/22]

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 an information provision role in Citizens Information Services for over two years during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The updates and changes to information, advice and advocacy that have taken place during the past two years have been unprecedented.

My Department understands that no decision has been made not to use volunteers in CIC offices.  Rather, 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.  

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

I am informed that the Volunteer Strategy Working Group is a CIS led group, comprising CIS Chairpersons, Regional Managers and a Development Manager.  The group is chaired by a CIS Regional Manager. South Leinster CIS, North Leinster CIS, Dublin South CIS and South Munster CIS services are represented on the group.  The Citizens Information Board provides administrative support.  The group will report to the CIS Employer Forum, and recommendations from the 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.