Chapter 3: Services provided and records held by different sections of Comhairle
3.1 Information and advice
Comhairle is the statutory agency responsible for a range of activities related to the provision of information, advice and advocacy on social and civil services to the public. Comhairle has particular responsibilities with regard to these services for people with disabilities. Comhairle's area of responsibility is determined by its statutory functions as laid down in the Comhairle Act 2000 as may be amended by the Comhairle Amendment Bill 2004. The functions are set out in Section 1.2 below.
The Information and Advice Service is responsible for delivering the core information services to meet the public's need for information as well as providing specific supports to information providers to enable them to provide information effectively. Responsibilities include managing Comhairle's online information databases and publications on rights and entitlements.
The main activities of the Information and Advice Service are:
- production of integrated information on social and civil services
- publication of information through various channels, both web-based and print media
- development of online information on rights and entitlements based on the Citizens Information Database and Oasis
- maintenance and updating of the Citizens Information Database and Oasis
- production of a range of publications and leaflets on rights and entitlements for the public
- supporting innovative information content and delivery through the annual Information Grants scheme and through publication grants aimed at voluntary and community sector
- assistance to information providers
- provision of expert query service to CISs and other information providers
- development, maintenance and updating of the Voluntary and Community Sector Database
- website content
3.1.1 Online information resources
The Oasis website, (Online Access to Services, Information and Support) www.oasis.gov.ie, provides accessible public service information on the social and civil rights of everyone in Ireland.
The Citizens Information Database (CID) is a comprehensive database on all aspects of social services, rights and entitlements of people in Ireland aimed primarily at information providers. It is used as an information resource by Citizens Information Services (CISs), information providers in the independent and statutory sectors, by government departments, local authorities and local health offices, and by employers and trade unions. See also section 3.2 regarding the Oasis website.
This database is available on the Internet at www.cidb.ie and can also be accessed through the Comhairle website at www.comhairle.ie.
3.1.2 - Citizens information online website on rights and entitlements
Comhairle is currently undertaking the replacement of Oasis and the Citizens Information Database (CID) with a single website which is due for completion in 2006. The outcome of the implementation of the new system will be a website covering all aspects of rights and entitlements in Ireland.
3.1.3 - Assistive technology database (Assist Ireland)
Comhairle has developed Assist Ireland in consultation with disability organisations, support services and service providers throughout Ireland. It is a comprehensive website containing information, products, suppliers and resources related to daily living and disability in Ireland. A telephone helpline is also provided as a back-up information support service.www.assistireland.ie
3.1.4 - Voluntary and Community Sector Database
Comhairle has a specific role in promoting and supporting voluntary organisations and has set up a database as a resource for the voluntary and community sector in Ireland.
The database has information on the following areas:
- funding
- a comprehensive Directory of National Voluntary Organisations
- managing volunteers
- setting up an information service
- establishing a voluntary organisation
- supports and other resources
3.1.5 - Comhairle website
The Comhairle website gives information on Comhairle activities in the following areas:
| About Comhairle | Voluntary Organisations |
| Services from Central and Regional Offices | Insurance |
| Strategy and Comhairle Customer Service Charter | Supporting Volunteering |
| Comhairle Board | Social Mentoring |
| Annual Report | Resources |
| Organisation Chart | Training |
| Freedom of Information and FOI Manual | Advocacy |
| Comhairle Act 2000 | Grants |
| Decentralisation to Drogheda | Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) |
| Citizens Information | Training |
| Oasis | Support |
| Citizens Information Phone Service | Funding to Other Organisations |
| Citizens Information Services | FLAC |
| Citizens Information Database | Refugee Information Service |
| Assistive Technology Database | Social Policy and Research |
| Information Providers: Citizens Information Services | Submissions and Policy |
| Advocacy | Recommendations |
| Training | Research and Social Policy Reports |
| Resources | Social Policy Guidelines |
| Funding | Advocacy |
| Publications in the following areas: | |
| Entitlements | |
| Leaflets | |
| Disability Factsheets | |
| Wallcharts | |
| Relate | |
| Social Policy and Research | |
| Voluntary Sector | |
| Training and Development | |
| Comhairle |
Publications are provided in a number of formats where possible.
3.1.6 Information publications
Comhairle produces a diverse range of information publications on all aspects of rights and entitlements for the public. They include booklets, leaflets, directories and wallcharts which are made available to Citizen Information Services, information providers and the voluntary and community sector. Publications include RELATE - a monthly information journal - and a range of booklets on rights and entitlements to services for the public.
Publications are also available online on the Comhairle website. A full list of publications is included in Appendix IV
In addition to its publications on rights and entitlements, Comhairle publishes social policy and research reports highlighting issues of concern to the public and information providers (see section 3.3 on Social Policy).
3.1.7 Information grants scheme
This is a national scheme to support innovative information initiatives in the voluntary and community sector. Grants range from €6,000 to €20,000 and the scheme is advertised annually in the national press (see Section 16 Manual for criteria and rules). This scheme is under review from 2005.
3.1.8 Publications Grants Scheme
Comhairle operates a small grant scheme for publications issued by other information providers (see Section 16 Manual).
3.1.9 Assistance to information providers
Information providers are assisted by general advice provided by Comhairle's staff, the provision of the Citizen Information Database and Oasis and the Information and Publications Grants for community and voluntary organisations
3.1.10 Expert query back-up service
The information staff of Comhairle (George's Quay House) provide an expert telephone information query back-up service to Citizen Information Services and other information providers.
3.1.11 Interagency database
This online resource for the voluntary and community sector has been developed by Comhairle, Combat Poverty Agency and Area Development Management (now Pobal). It lists the various publications and resources published by the three agencies. This database is linked from the websites of all three agencies.
3.1.12 Publicly and routinely available information
- publications available free of charge to the public
- criteria for grant aid routinely published in conjunction with advertising of schemes
3.1.13 Records held
- general administrative records including minutes of meetings
- back issues of publications
- applications for grant aid (Information Grants and Publication Grants)
- contracts/tenders for commissioned work
- database for query returns/statistics for CIS network
- financial records
- contracts for support services and suppliers
