Press Release May 2010
Volunteers who have given over 20 years service to their community with the Citizens Information Service have been honoured at a special ceremony today (May 13th) at Croke Park. Each volunteer received a certificate and a commemorative bowl at the event which was hosted by the Citizens Information Board (CIB) and the National Association of Citizens Information Services. The occasion was marked by the attendance of Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuiv T.D.
Speaking at this inaugural event, Mr Tony McQuinn, Chief Executive, Citizens Information Board said: "Volunteers have played an essential part in the development of Citizens Information Services and continue to be integral to the delivery of this community based service. They bring commitment, life experience and a vast range of skills to their role."
He added: "This event acknowledges, in particular, the volunteers who have dedicated themselves for the past twenty years or more, to ensuring that their local communities, especially the vulnerable or socially excluded, have access to information on entitlements and services and the assistance needed in securing them."
The service first came to the fore in 1968 when a Muintir na Tire Conference called for the development of Community Advisory Centres to advise members of the local community of their rights and entitlements. In 1971 Muintir helped to set up a centre in Carlow as a pilot project.
At that time the National Social Service Council (now the Citizens Information Board) was established with responsibility for setting up Community Information Centres. In 1972 the first Citizens Advice Bureau was established in Cork and a Community Information Centre, as they were known then, was established in Tipperary.
In 1975 the first 25 Community Information Centres received their certificates of registration. At that time the service was run entirely by volunteers. The Citizens Information Centre name change took place in 1990. Each centre is linked to one of 42 main Citizens Information Services (CISs) that are set up as independent companies with their own independent Board of Management.
Today there are 1,175 volunteers working alongside 183 paid staff in the service which has over 260 locations comprising 55 full-time Citizens Information Centres (CICs), 55 part-time centres and 152 outreaches. Volunteers are as important to the Citizens Information services today as they were 20 years ago and provide a service equivalent to a 107 whole time staff which is equivalent to a third of all service hours. Last year there were 685,778 callers to centres around the country, 154, 823 calls were answered by the Citizens Information Phone Service and over 3.6 million people visited citizensinformation.ie
This is the first of a number of events due to take place to mark the contribution of volunteers to the Citizens Information Service.
The occasion also marked the launch of the Research Report Volunteering in Citizens Information Services. The research was carried out by the Centre for Nonprofit Management, TCD, on behalf of the Citizens Information Board. The report explored the role and contribution of volunteers to the service as information providers.
Among its findings were a deep commitment on the part of the volunteers and staff of CISs to the provision of a quality information and advice service. There was clear support from CIB for the ongoing contribution of volunteers in the local delivery of a citizens' information and advice service and recognition of the value and effectiveness of a mixed volunteer and paid model of service.
The environment in which services operate is very dynamic and the current recession has led to increasing demand for Citizens Information. There is also recognition that information and advice provision is becoming increasingly complex and varied and that volunteer recruitment, development and role performance need to reflect this.
Pictured: Eileen Fitzgerald, Senior Manager holds the commemorative bowl that each volunteer received.
Pictured: Pictured centre is Tom Fitzgerald, Tipperary CIS, the longest serving volunteer in the service with Minister Éamon Ó Cuív T.D. and Tony Mc Quinn, Chief Executive
Pictured: Patrick Stagg hands a certificate to Marie Dougan, South Kildare CIS.
Pictured: The certificate received by each recipient.
Pictured: Attendees at the celebration event.
Pictured: Moira Byrne, who spoke passionately about her experience as a long serving volunteer with Wicklow CIS pictured with Patrick Stagg, Chair, NACIS and Eileen Fitzgerald, Senior Manager.
