Chapter 3: Services provided and records held by different sections of Comhairle
3.3 Social policy, Advocacy and Research
The Development and Social Policy Service in Comhairle has responsibility for social policy, advocacy, research and accessibility matters.
3.3.1 Social Policy
Comhairle has a specific remit to provide feedback on issues of social policy concern to the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. Citizen Information Services provide regular feedback on issues which arise in queries.
Comhairle contributes to the development of national social policy by collecting and using feedback from the users and providers of information and advice services. Policy concerns identified by Citizen Information Services, the Citizens Information Phone Service and other providers of independent information and advice services are analysed and used as the basis for social policy reports published regularly by Comhairle.
Recent social policy reports include Supporting Grandparents Caring for their Grandchildren and Employment Rights. For a complete list of reports see Appendix IV.
Guidelines on social policy work for Citizen Information Services are published in print and are available from the Comhairle website.
Submissions
Comhairle compiles and submits pre-Budget submissions every year setting out its recommendations for changes in the social services area. Comhairle also responds to calls for submissions to government departments and agencies, working groups, advisory groups and other public consultation mechanisms on areas of public policy which are relevant to its brief. These submissions are published on the Comhairle website.
VOICE - Influencing Social Policy
This is a periodical detailing for Citizen Information Services and other information providers how their social policy feedback can influence public policy. It is published in print and on the Comhairle website.
Social Policy Quarterly Reports
These reports document the social policy records received from CISs on a quarterly basis and chart difficulties citizens are having in accessing entitlements. They are published on the Comhairle website.
Social Policy Grants
A scheme of grants to support social policy activities at a local level. For details of the criteria for these grants see the Section 16 Manual. This scheme is under review from 2005.
3.3.2 - Advocacy
The Comhairle Act 2000 defines advocacy services as those in which "the interests of a person seeking a social service are represented in order to assist such a person in securing entitlement to such a service but does not include legal representation" Comhairle is working to enhance advocacy as defined in the Comhairle Act 2000 through developing advocacy services in CISs and supporting voluntary groups which are already active in the advocacy area. A number of consultation and research documents have been compiled to inform this work.
Under the Comhairle Amendment Bill 2004 Comhairle's role will be expanded. The Bill gives Comhairle a remit to provide or support the provision of an advocacy service for those qualifying as having a disability. The Bill envisages advocacy services as "supporting people with disabilities to identify and understand their needs and options, and secure their entitlements to social services."
Comhairle intends to provide this service in three strands in accordance with the recommendations of the Goodbody report Developing an Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities which was commissioned by Comhairle. Strand 2 to set up advocacy services at local and community level is being developed first. Comhairle is funding a range of projects from different organisations across a range of disabilities throughout the country.
Recent advocacy reports are available on the Comhairle website. There is a list of them in Appendix IV.
Speaking Up For Advocacy
This newsletter discusses advocacy issues and details projects and research relating to advocacy. It mainly focuses on advocacy in Ireland but also makes reference to advocacy issues abroad.
3.3.3 - Research
Comhairle commissions research on various aspects of information provision and social service delivery. This is published in print and on the Comhairle website.
3.3.4 - Publicly and routinely available information
Social policy, advocacy and research reports and newsletters are available online at www.comhairle.ie and in print.
3.3.5 - Records held
- general administrative records including minutes of meetings
- financial records
- tendering documentation and contracts for research undertaken
- grant applications, assessments and contracts with successful applicants
- records of social policy feedback from Citizens Information Services
