Press release
Minister Humphreys appoints Catherine Heaney as Chairperson of the Citizens Information Board
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys T.D, has today announced the appointment of Ms. Catherine Heaney as Chairperson of the Citizens Information Board.
The appointment is confirmed following an open competition conducted by the Public Appointments Service and an appearance by Ms. Heaney before the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands.
The Citizens Information Board is a statutory body under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection and is responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice services) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services.
Minister Humphreys commented on the appointment, saying:
“I am delighted to appoint Ms. Catherine Heaney as Chairperson of the Citizens Information Board and I know Catherine is looking forward to the task of leading the Board and developing their strategy over the next five years.
“I am confident Catherine will uphold the highest standards in her new role and that her varied background equips her with the skills to help maintain the delivery of the Citizens Information Board’s services and ensure supports to individuals, families and communities are continued at this important time.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank Seán Sheridan, vice Chairperson of the Citizen’s Information Board for serving as interim Chairperson of the Board until today’s appointment.”
Ms. Catherine Heaney possesses over 25 years of experience in public affairs and strategic communications in executive and non-executive roles and in the public and private sectors. Since 2004, she has been Chairperson and Founding Director of DHR Communications.
Ms. Heaney has also acted as Chairperson of the National Museum of Ireland since 2016 and was recently re-appointed to this role by Minister Catherine Martin T.D.
Ms. Heaney previously served as Chairperson of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Corporate Social Responsibility Forum and as Chief Executive of the Irish Family Planning Association.
ENDS
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a non-commercial statutory body with an information, advice and advocacy role in relation to a wide range of public and social services.
CIB lies under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, which provides annual Exchequer funding to CIB to deliver on its statutory functions.
The organisation was established under the Comhairle Act 2000 (as amended). This Act was amended by the Citizens Information Act 2007, which changed the name of the organisation to the Citizens Information Board, and by the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011, which amended the rules relating to membership of the Citizens Information Board. In 2008 the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act extended the existing acts to give the Citizens Information Board responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service.
Section 9(2) of the Comhairle Act 2000 provides for the Minister to designate one member of the Board as Chairperson.
The principal functions of CIB are set out in Section 7 of the Comhairle Act 2000.
CIB provides some services directly to the public through the citzensinformation.ie website and a number of microsites. It also funds 22 independent Service Delivery Companies:
These Service Delivery Companies are established as companies limited by guarantee under the Companies Act, 2014. Exchequer funding is provided to these companies by CIB, which works with the companies to deliver on its statutory functions.