Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2026
169. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider additional funding for Citizens Information Services so they can hire additional staff to meet the significant unmet demand for the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15354/26]
View answerThe 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.
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).
Each CIS is an independent limited company overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors and each company makes decisions independently on the delivery of services in their own regions.
The Citizens Information Service delivery companies currently provide information, advice and advocacy services through 89 Citizens Information Centres, along with 20 outreach services which includes a virtual Citizens Information Centre in Wicklow library. In addition, there are 7 prison outreach services provided by the Citizens Information Services.
There are currently 216.12 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) positions across the 8 regions in the CIS, in addition there are currently 180 volunteers and 173 employment scheme participants across the service.
CIB has been allocated Exchequer funding of €69.432m in 2026 by my Department, which represents an increase of €2.88m from €66.543m in 2025.
CIB have included a total of €18.3m to the eight CIS regional companies and €1.56m to the Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS) for 2026.
I acknowledge and value the important work carried out by the Citizens Information Service (CIS) in providing people with independent information, advice and advocacy services.
CIB submit their annual funding requirements to the Department through the yearly annual estimates process. The CIS should submit any additional staffing resources to CIB for inclusion in the estimates submission. This submission forms part of the Department’s overall budget request to the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
