Written answers
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Departmental Properties
James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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992. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of premises in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10633/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) funds and supports eight independent regional Citizen Information Service (CIS) companies, which in turn operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. It is important to note that each CIS is a limited company governed by a voluntary Board of Directors, which make decisions independently on the delivery of services in their regions.
Dublin South Citizen Information Service (CIS) is an independent company responsible for the provision of information, advice, and advocacy services across the south Dublin region.
The Rathmines office was closed in April 2022 due to the sale of the property by a private landlord, it was not owned by my Department. In 2024, Dublin South CIS identified and secured a premises in Usher Street, which could accommodate staff from the former Rathmines office as well as allowing for the replacement of the Meath Street office, which had become unsuitable for a number of reasons. The premises in Usher Street is now fully operational and serving the areas Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8.
There are three locations under the remit of the Dublin South Citizens Information Service servicing the Dublin 2, 4 and 6 areas including Carmelite CIC Drop-In Clinic, Dublin 12 & 6w CIC and Liberties CIC (Usher Street).
The total number of hours per week provided by these centres are:
| CIC | Number of hours provided per week | Opening Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Carmelite CIC | 6 hours per week | Monday 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 4pm. (Except Bank Holidays) and Tuesday 10am to 12pm |
| Dublin 12 & 6w CIC | 16.5 hours per week | Reception Desk Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am to 12.30pm & 2pm - 4.30pm Drop-in Clinic Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings 9.30am to 12.30pm. |
| Liberties CIC | 30 hours per week | Reception Desk Monday to Friday – 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm Drop-in Clinic Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9.30am to 12.15pm (we do not have a walk-in service on Wednesday mornings). Phone/Email Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4.30pm Friday 9.30am to 1pm |
Details of exact dates for changes in the number of centres and hours per week, over the last five years is not available.
Post-Covid, the DSCIS service delivery model has moved to providing a variety of service delivery options to callers including drop-in, in-person appointments, virtual appointments, phone call-backs and email. This is a change to the approach pre-Covid when dropping in without an appointment was the only service offer. Information on current opening hours and centres is available on the Citizens Information website.
Since 2020, Dublin South Citizens Information Service has assisted 180,000 people with over 277,000 queries.
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