department of social and family affairs annual report 2006 - Welfare.ie

Statutory Agencies
There are five offices which come under the aegis
of the Department:
- Citizens Information Board (formerly
Comhairle) which has responsibility for
supporting the provision of independent
information, advice and advocacy services
for citizens. www.citizensinformation.ie/
categories is a public service information
system provided over the Internet by the
Board.
- Combat Poverty Agency (CPA) which has
responsibilities in the areas of advice to the
Minister, research, action programmes and
information in relation to poverty in Ireland
(www.cpa.ie).
- The Pensions Board
The Pensions Board which is responsible
for overseeing the implementation of
the Pensions Act which concerns the
administration of occupational schemes
and Personal Retirement Savings Accounts
(www.pensionsboard.ie).
- Pensions Ombudsman
The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman
investigates complaints that an individual
has suffered a financial loss because of
maladministration, disputes of fact or
law, in relation to occupational pension
schemes or Personal Retirement Savings
Accounts. The Pensions Ombudsman is
a statutory officer and exercises his
functions independently.
(www.pensionsombudsman.ie).
- Family Support Agency (FSA) which is
responsible for the provision of a family
mediation service, the support, promotion
and development of marriage and
relationship counselling and other family
supports, and the Family and Community
Services Resource Centre programme.
The Agency’s responsibilities also include
undertaking research, providing and
disseminating information about parenting
and family issues, and providing advice,
information and assistance to the
Minister on matters relating to families
(www.fsa.ie).
the department
0