Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment today (Monday 15th March, 1999) officially opened the the new premises of the Clondalkin Citizens Information Centre at Luke Cullen House, Oakfield Industrial Estate, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

Speaking at the opening the Tánaiste said "the availability of good quality information and advice is essential and there is a clear onus on Government Departments and their agencies to provide information on their respective programmes. However, it is equally important that information should not be the sole preserve of State Agencies. A properly resourced and developed independent information centre can provide an extremely important element of choice to its clients. This new centre in Clondalkin is a prime example of such a facility."

The Clondalkin Citizens Information Centre, which has been run as a part-time voluntary service for ten years, provides free confidential and impartial information on any subject, including social welfare services, health services, redundancy entitlements, income tax matters, family law and consumer information.

Since January of this year the centre is now open office hours, five days a week. It is also open every Tuesday evening for legal information. The Centre is staffed by a full-time Development Manager, two full-time Information Officers and twelve local volunteers.

The Centre is fully computerised and is linked in to the Citizens Information database which is updated on a daily basis by the National Social Services Board. During the opening ceremony Ms Leonie Lunny, Director of the National Social Services Board, presented the Centre with a Certificate in recognition of the Centre being a key full-time infomation Centre. It is now one of over 30 key full-time Centres around the country which have been registered and funded by the National Social Services Board. The Centre works closely with the Tallaght/Clondalkin Disability Information project with a view to making it totally accessible to people with disabilities.

Concluding the Tánaiste said "the move to new premises has been a welcome one for both staff and clients as the Centre is now fully computerised and is open office hours. I would like to congratulate all those involved in the Centre and I wish the Centre continued success in the future."