The Citizens Information Board is the statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services. It provides the Citizens Information website, www.citizensinformation.ie and supports the voluntary network of Citizens Information Centres and the Citizens Information Phone Service 0761 07 4000. It also funds and supports the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) 0761 07 2000.

Governed by the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008, the Citizens Information Act 2007 (pdf) and the Comhairle Act 2000, the Board comes under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. The Citizens Information Board's mandate, as defined by the Acts, is:

• To ensure that individuals have access to accurate, comprehensive and clear information relating to social services

• To assist and support individuals, in particular those with disabilities, in identifying and understanding their needs and options

• To promote greater accessibility, coordination and public awareness of social services

• To support, promote and develop the provision of information on the effectiveness of current social policy and services and to highlight issues which are of concern to users of those services

• To support the provision of, or directly provide, advocacy services for people with a disability.

• To support the provision of advice on personal debt and money management through the Money Advice and Budgeting Service.

Is é an Bord um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh (BFS) an comhlacht reachtúil atá freagrach as tacú le soláthar faisnéise, comhairle agus abhcóideachta faoi réimse leathan seirbhísí poiblí agus sóisialta. Cuireann sé an láithreán gréasáin um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh www.citizensinformation.ie ar fáil agus tacaíonn sé le líonra deonach na nIonad Faisnéise do Shaoránaigh agus leis an tSeirbhís Teileafóin um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh 0761 07 4000. Cuireann sé maoiniú agus tacaíocht ar fáil freisin don tSeirbhís Buiséadaithe agus Comhairle Airgid (MABS) 0761 07 2000.

Tá an Bord á rialú ag an Acht Leasa Shóisialaigh (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha) 2008, ag an Acht um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh 2007 (pdf) agus ag an Acht um Chomhairle 2000 agus tá sé faoi shainchúram na Roinne Coimirce Sóisialaí. Seo a leanas sainordú an Bhoird um Fhaisnéis do Shaoránaigh, de réir mar atá sainmhínithe sna hAchtanna:

• A chinntiú go mbíonn daoine in ann faisnéis chruinn, chuimsitheach, shoiléir a fháil faoi sheirbhísí sóisialta

• Cabhrú agus tacú le daoine aonair, go mór mór leo siúd atá faoi mhíchumas, chun a gcuid riachtanais agus roghanna a aithint agus a thuiscint

• Rochtain, comhordú agus feasacht phoiblí maidir le seirbhísí sóisialta a chur chun cinn níos mó

• Tacú le soláthar faisnéise faoi éifeachtacht an bheartais shóisialta agus na seirbhísí sóisialta reatha agus aird a tharraingt ar shaincheisteanna atá ina n-ábhar imní ag úsáideoirí na seirbhísí sin

• Tacú le soláthar seirbhísí abhcóideachta do dhaoine faoi mhíchumas nó na seirbhísí sin a chur ar fáil go díreach.

• Tacú le soláthar comhairle maidir le bainistiú fiacha pearsanta agus airgid tríd an tSeirbhís Buiséadaithe agus Comhairle Airgid (MABS).