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Kildare Money Advice is committed to providing effective management of
its service. The primary responsibility here lies with our voluntary management
committee, which consists of representatives of various community, voluntary
and statutory agencies in Kildare (Annex 3). The committee meets once
a month. It also has a sub-committee which liases with staff on personnel
and work issues.
The service provided monthly returns to the Department on its number of
clients. We also prepared and published an annual report on our activities
for the year, along with our 1998-2000 strategic plan. Based on the strategic
plan, a detailed work programme for 1998-2000 was prepared at the start
of the year.
Staff attended training provided by the National Social Services Board
(NSSB), for example, on the Consumer Credit Act. Two staff participated
in a six-week course in Advanced Listening Skills with the Irish Institute
of Couple Counselling, in conjunction with the NSSB. Also, all staff are
currently attending a two year National University of Ireland Certificate
in Foundation Counselling Skills. A staff member also attended a seminar
on domestic violence with a speaker from Women's Aid, Dublin.
Staff and management also participate in regional and national meetings
and seminars in relation to the money advice service. Two staff and management
people attended an international conference on consumer debt organised
by the NSSB and Consumer Debt Net in September, 1998. A paper was presented
at this event on the role of credit unions in providing access to low
cost credit. Contracts for staff were updated to cover the three-year
period until 2001. A contributory pension scheme was also put in place,
the first money advice project in the country to do so.
We have a health and safety document for our two offices, which will be
reviewed in 2000.
Finally, we reviewed the adequacy of the office accommodation during the
year. Having considered available options and resources, it was decided
to relocate the Maynooth office to Kilcock. This will provide additional
work space, including meeting rooms for clients.
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