National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011 - 2016

advocacy role for all citizens over a range of civil and social services, including housing. TheCIB fulfils this through their citizen’s information website, www.citizensinformation.ie andthrough their network of Citizen Information Centres and the Citizens Information PhoneService. Citizens Information Services provide free, impartial and confidential informationadvice and advocacy. Each Service covers a geographical area, either county-wide or part ofan urban area, and delivers its services through a network of Citizens Information Centres.There are 42 Citizens Information Services providing a service at 268 locations - theseconsist of 106 Citizens Information Centres (54 full-time and 52 part-time) and 162 outreachservices. The centres are staffed by both trained personnel and volunteers.11.20 The CIB has published advocacy guidelines which help to inform and guide thedelivery of advocacy services funded by the CIB.11.21 Furthermore, in partnership with the Institute of Technology Sligo, and the EqualityAuthority, the CIB has developed and supports an accredited advocacy training course – theHigher Certificate in Arts in Advocacy Studies is accredited at certificate level and isdelivered through distance learning. The CIB also provides its own accredited training inadvocacy through the Information Providers Programme and the Advocacy PracticeProgramme.11.22 The Citizens Information Act 2007 gave the CIB a remit to provide a PersonalAdvocacy Service for people with disabilities, but the establishment of this statutory servicewas deferred in 2008 due to resource constraints. However, in 2010 following an evaluationof a 5 year pilot Advocacy Programme, the Department of Social Protection sanctioned anew National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities, to be set up by the CIB andbased in 5 Citizens Information Services. Five Regional Advocacy Managers employed bythese CISs now manage this service with 35 advocates located around the country. TheNational Advocacy Service provides independent, representative advocacy services forpeople with disabilities. It seeks out those more vulnerable people with disabilities whocannot self-refer, who are isolated in the community or living in residential institutions andoffers an independent advocacy service which will protect their rights, help them gain theirentitlements, obtain a fair hearing and make positive changes in their quality of life. TheNational Advocacy Service will be reviewed after 18 months to determine whether thestatutory powers planned for the Personal Advocacy Service are needed.11.23 In parallel, the advocacy service provided through the Citizens Information Serviceswill be enhanced through the recruitment of 5 advocacy support workers so that morepeople with disabilities can use this service on the same basis as everyone else for socialwelfare, local authority and employment issues; while people with disabilities with more142