Bridging the Gap: Managing high costs on low incomes. CIB Pre-Budget Submission 2025

CIB submitted its Pre-Budget Submission 2025 to the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Finance on 22 August 2024. The submission drew on data and policy commentary from CIB funded services. The submission can be found here.

During 2023, CIB-funded services helped thousands of people across Irish society access their rights and entitlements. Over 585,000 people sought assistance from Citizens Information Services (CISs), the Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS), the Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS) and the National Advocacy Service (NAS) for people with disabilities. In addition, 6.9 million people visited www.citizensinformation.ie to access information on topics from consumer rights to housing, from health services to welfare benefits. These services have a unique level of engagement with the public. The statistical and qualitative data and policy feedback they provide offers an invaluable insight into the concerns and needs of hundreds of thousands of people, and into the impact of government policies and funding priorities.

CIB draws on the insights offered by our frontline services to illustrate the impact of Government policy (and its implementation) on those who are trying to secure social and public services or to bridge the gap between low incomes and high costs.