Minister launches new premises for Citizen Information Service in the Liberties

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, officially opened the new Liberties Citizens Information Centre at Ushers Street, Dublin 8 on Wednesday 10 September.

Nuala Crowe-Taft, Development Manager at Liberties Citizens Information Centre, expressed her delight that the Minister had taken time out from a busy schedule to open the office. “I was delighted to welcome the Minister to the launch of our new centre. Minister Calleary’s support and presence demonstrate the importance our service plays in the local community and is a recognition of the work our staff carry out supporting people from throughout the community to uphold their rights and entitlements.”

The Liberties CIC has been an important resource in the community for over 30 years. Originally located at 90 Meath Street in the heart of the Liberties, last October the service, having secured funding through the Department of Social Protection and the Citizens Information Board, moved to its new premises on nearby Usher Street.

Welcoming the opening of the new centre, Minister Calleary, said “the Citizens Information Centre is at the heart of the community, providing independent essential information, advice and advocacy services to many, particularly the vulnerable in our society. The new centre will continue the strong tradition of being there to help when support is needed and I wish the team every success with their future work here in the Liberties.”

With its new centre the service now provides a comprehensive information, advice and advocacy service with 6 walk-in clinics per week, appointment clinics and a call-back service, as well as an outreach clinic at the Carmelite Centre in Aungier Street. It is now responding to over 1,000 queries per month from the public as well as supporting people in a range of advocacy work including social welfare, housing, healthcare, education, employment and immigration issues.

Ms Crowe-Taft concluded, “We were delighted to have the opportunity to outline to the Minister the positive impact our service has on the local community and to thank him for the continued support and funding from his Department which has ensured that this vital resource is maintained within the community.”