The submission profiles the most significant and regularly occurring issues raised by Citizens Information Services (CISs). These are grouped into three overarching areas: work and welfare; disability, illness and caring; and housing supports. MABS concerns relating to financial inclusion, housing, and energy poverty are also highlighted. We acknowledge the positive impact of the measures provided by Government in recent budgets to alleviate pressures on households acutely impacted by sustained levels of inflation. However, we note that services continue to evidence that many people face significant financial hardship and struggle to meet increasing housing, food and energy costs. We suggest that the broadly positive macro-economic outlook provides Government with an opportunity to move beyond ad-hoc provision of supplementary budgetary measures towards an approach that embeds greater support into the system.

CIB welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on a revised Energy Poverty Action Plan. Citizens Information Services (CISs) deal with considerable query levels relating to fuel and energy costs and related support schemes – 27,465 Fuel Allowance queries in 2023. CISs and MABS repeatedly highlight the fact that, while high fuel prices and related heating costs affect everyone, low-income households fare worst because a higher percentage of their disposable income is required for this purpose. Energy poor households have the lowest income levels and have issues with the quality of their housing. While income and fuel poverty require different policy instruments, policies need to address income and energy efficiency inequalities simultaneously.

While the proposals for disability payments reform, outlined in the Green Paper, will not go ahead given the significant concerns raised in the consultation process, the Department of Social Protection has confirmed that the submissions prepared by organisations in response to the consultation process will inform the broader view of disability supports and services under the new Cabinet Committee. CIB has regularly highlighted the need for disability-related payments and supports to address the range of difficulties and challenges faced by disabled people in living their lives on an equal basis to the rest of society. This submission provides feedback on issues with disability payments experienced by clients of CIB services --in 2023 over 57,000 queries to Citizens Information Services (CISs) related specifically to disability payments.