John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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420. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number and location of Citizens' Information Services which have closed in the past six months in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47988/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory agency tasked with providing information, advocacy and advice to citizens. These important services are delivered by eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies.  CIB provides funding to eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. 

It is important to note that, by law, the CIB is charged with independently overseeing the delivery of its services under its remit. Similarly, each CIS is an independent limited company governed by a voluntary board of directors. These eight CIS companies make decisions independently on the delivery of services in their own regions.

CIB have informed me that there has been one closure of a centre within the last six months.

Nationally, 89 Citizens Information Centres are currently open and remain available to provide information, advice and advocacy.  Information on service locations and opening hours can be found on centres.citizensinformation.ie/.

Additionally, for customers who may not be able to access this information on the website, they can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS) on 0818 07 4000, which is open Monday to Friday from 9am – 8pm .

It is incumbent on CIB and the CIS Boards to ensure that a high-quality service is delivered nationally which will continue to provide essential information, advice and advocacy to the citizens of Ireland in the most effective manner possible.

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the decision of the Citizens Information Board to exclude volunteer information providers from their terms of reference; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47989/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory agency tasked with providing information, advocacy and advice to citizens. These important services are delivered by eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies.  CIB provides funding to eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. 

It is important to note that, by law, the CIB is charged with independently overseeing the delivery of its services under its remit. Similarly, each CIS is an independent limited company governed by a voluntary board of directors. These eight CIS companies make decisions independently on the delivery of services in their own regions.  

The CIS volunteer strategy was developed by the independent regional CIS companies and, as an operational matter, I cannot, as Minister for Social Protection, direct the CIB or the CIS in this regard. I have written to and met with the CIB requesting information on the situation and the implementation of the strategy by the CIS companies.   

The CIS is a trusted source of information, advice and advocacy, with a long tradition of volunteering and I have been assured by the CIB that the contribution of volunteers continues to be highly valued in this regard. Volunteers have been returning on a phased basis since mid-2022 and to date, CIB have been informed that 120 volunteers have returned to support the delivery of Citizens Information Services across the country.  

CIB is urgently engaging with the regional companies in relation to the continued return of volunteers. In addition, CIB has now agreed Terms of Reference for an independent review of the volunteer programme. The priority for the Board of CIB is that the service provided to the public is of the highest quality, whether provided in-person, online or by phone. The review will engage with internal and external stakeholders, including current and past volunteers, to make recommendations on the re-integration of volunteers to the service.

I trust this clarifies your query on this matter.