Citizens Information Centres were established with the three main aims of information, advice and advocacy, so when you need help budgeting they can provide information or refer you on to MABs. If you are worried about your application for citizenship they can give you a contact in The Integration Centre. Or if you are worried about your current housing situation they can talk with you and then direct you to Threshold or Focus Ireland. They have a wide range of areas they can help you with.
In the coming months CIC are starting to build on existing and new partnerships with national, statutory and voluntary agencies. They want to make it easier for people to get the correct information so they are holding networking meetings with these agencies in the coming weeks.
The first meeting is to be one of assessment – what information do people need in times of recession and what can CIC do for them? NewsFour spoke with Liz Carroll from Rathmines CIC who comments, “Now more than ever we need communities to work together. When someone needs a medical card or gets made redundant for example, they need to have quick access to information to help them feel they are not alone, and that they can get through their personal crisis.”
So the aim of the partnership initiative is to work together and discuss how to support each other and to get clear, concise information to people as quickly as possible. Liz Carroll used the example of the local libraries. CIC plan to ensure all libraries are made aware of the services available in their local community.
If you have any concerns, don’t worry alone. Speak to the professionals in CIC who will be able to either help you themselves or direct you to someone who can.
Citizens Information Phone Service: 0761 07 4000
Citizens Information holds clinics in Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre
Citizens Information: Thursdays 9.30am – 1pm and Free Legal Advice: Mondays 7pm – 8.30pm
CIC Dublin City Centre, 13a Upper O’Connell Street, City Centre, Dublin 1 Tel: 0761 07 7230
CIC Rathmines Centre, 7 Wynnefield Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6. Tel: 0761 07 7110
By Joan Mitchell
