Research on evaluating the impact CIS have using a public service value framework. The research was commissioned by the CIS Development Managers Network and carried out by Dr. Nat O'Connor, Institute for Research in Social Sciences, Ulster University. It documents the wide range of services provided by CISs and the economic and social value of this work to the public. It also shows the importance of CISs in dealing with people who cannot access online information or who need a face-to-face service offering advice and advocacy in relation to increasingly complex issues. Over 600,000 people are served by CISs annually with services operating from over 200 locations.

A study on the nature of mortgage arrears among clients, how clients mortgage arrears are being treated and recommendations for change has been published by South Mayo MABS. The study conducted by South Mayo MABS in partnership with Dr. Stuart Stamp suggests that there is a spatial dimension to mortgage arrears, across a range of areas such as borrower age, household composition, lender profiles, arrears persistence, housing stress and shelter poverty. It also recommends that emerging policy developments need to factor in a spatial dimension to resolution of arrears problems.

This external independent CIB commissioned evaluation of employment schemes within the network of citizens information services considers the role and contribution of these programmes and the Community Employment scheme in particular to the delivery of the information, advice and advocacy service model and the benefits to various stakeholders arising from the use of these schemes. The research undertaken by TMA Associates explores the overall nature of engagement of scheme workers in services, the extent of face to face work with clients and the progression of staff into more mainstream roles in services. The research also looks at the extent to which the employment opportunities and the model provided by CIS contributes to the overall government activation and work placement agenda.