Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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487. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to mark the 50th anniversary of the registration on 8 March 1975 of the first independent and impartial, State-supported Citizens Information Services (at an event in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, where Tánaiste Brendan Corish was guest of honour); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5662/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As you will be aware, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body under the aegis of my Department, with responsibility for the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services.

CIB funds and supports a number of companies to deliver on this remit, including eight regional companies of the Citizens Information Services (CIS), which deliver important information, advice and advocacy services through its national network of Citizens Information Centres.

I am very aware of the important work carried out by staff and volunteers of the CIS right across the country.

CIB has informed my Department that they are not aware of any plans currently in place or confirmed to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the CIS. However, CIB has also advised us that the CIS is interested in organising an event, which my Department would be supportive of.

I trust this clarifies your query.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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488. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the metrics put in place to measure the quality of the Citizens Information Service before and after the restructuring of corporate governance structures enforced in 2018 despite a majority in Dáil Éireann deeming those changes "flawed and ill-considered" (Joint Oireachtas Committee Report, 1 June 2017); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5663/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As you will be 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.

While CIB provides some services directly, it also funds a number of companies to deliver services, including the Citizens Information Service (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).

In 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 42 CIS and 51 MABS companies into 16 regional companies. The aim of this restructuring, which was completed in 2018, was to improve governance arrangements and ensure the delivery of consistent and high quality services.

I am informed by CIB that prior to the restructuring, CIB, in collaboration with the 42 CIS and 51 MABS companies, developed and updated a range of standardised policies and procedures, including in the areas of service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Following the restructuring of CIS and MABS companies in 2018, CIB continues to be support the companies with quality standards, primarily through the National CIS Quality Working Group and the MABS Quality Assurance Programme Board.

Key initiatives under these two groups have included: a survey of Perceptions of Quality and Quality Related Practices in the CIS and a related standardised customer satisfaction survey; a review and update of quality standards, policies, procedures and customer care resources for the CIS; the development of the MABS Quality Assurance Perceptions and Development Survey; the development of a structure that streamlines the process of communicating standards; and the development of new quality standards and updating existing quality standards for MABS.

In addition, an independent review of the restructuring, which was completed in 2023, found that the restructuring has delivered a more consistent service offering nationally, as well as governance, communication and management efficiencies, and increased shared learning and collaboration among the CIS and MABS companies.

Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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489. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is satisfied that the additional expenditure of €4.55 million on restructured Citizens Information Service, as reported to the Oireachtas committee on social protection in November 2017, represents value for money; whether the restructured corporate governance model has, as yet, achieved European Foundation for Quality Management accreditation, as the county-wide and area-wide Citizens Information Service did before restructuring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5664/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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. While CIB provides some services directly, it also funds a number of companies to deliver services, including the Citizens Information Service (CIS) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS).

In 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 42 CIS and 51 MABS companies into 16 regional companies. The aim of this restructuring, which was completed in 2018, was to improve governance arrangements and ensure the delivery of consistent and high quality services.

In relation to costs, I am informed by CIB that in 2017, they commissioned a cost-benefit analysis that estimated that the proposed restructuring process would involve additional expenditure by CIB of €4.55 million, in then present values, over a period of eight years. Analysis of the accuracy of this estimate will be carried out once the full eight year period has concluded.

Regarding European Foundation for Quality Management accreditation, CIB has advised my Department that they are not aware that the CIS or MABS companies are currently in receipt of this accreditation. Such accreditation would be a matter for the companies and their respective Boards of Directors.

I trust the above clarifies your question.