Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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658. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will re-establish the independent and impartial County Tipperary Citizens Information Service (details supplied); if he will resource a re-established countywide citizens information service to attain European Foundation for Quality Management accreditation, as was in place at the time of its abolition; if he will ensure that the re-established service is resourced to produce regular social policy reports and analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2446/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body, under the aegis of my Department, that is 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.

As you will be also aware, CIB delivers on this remit through providing some services directly and through funding a number of companies, including eight regional companies of the Citizens Information Service (CIS). These companies operate the national network of 90 Citizens Information Centres and 21 outreach locations, with South Munster and North Munster CIS having responsibility for the Tipperary area.

In February 2017, following lengthy and extensive analysis, and a detailed consultation period with all stakeholders, the Board of CIB made the decision to restructure the governance arrangements of the then network of 42 CIS companies, as well as 51 Money Advice and Budgeting Services companies, into 16 regional companies.

The aim of this restructuring was to improve governance arrangements and ensure a modern and streamlined citizen-focused service delivery model. The restructuring process was completed in October 2018.

In relation to Tipperary, there are five Citizens Information Centres located throughout the county, including in Clonmel, Nenagh, Roscrea, Thurles and Tipperary town. The separately CIB funded Citizens Information Phone Service is also available to the people of Tipperary and beyond.

As regards social policy funding, CIB provides funding to its funded companies, including CIS, through the annual Social Policy Grant Scheme, which aims to support and promote social policy work at a regional and local level.

In addition, the CIS submits data based on its services through Social Policy Returns. CIB informs my Department that in 2024, the five Citizens Information Centres in Tipperary provided a combined total of 165 Social Policy Returns to CIB, which is used to inform CIB's social policy research and reporting.