Demand rises for Citizens Information services

The number of people seeking information and support from the Citizens Information Board about social welfare and employment rights issues continues to rise, with a 24% increase in callers in the first six months of the year, according to the organisation's annual report published today.

In 2008, over 2.5 million people visited the citizensinformation.ie website, there were 136,745 queries received by its phone service and 957,044 queries were received through its drop-in network of 111 centres and 162 outreach services.

While the majority of queries in 2008 related to social welfare, employment rights was the next highest category followed by health.

The organisation has also launched new initiatives aimed at the recently unemployed or people facing the prospect of redundancy, including a website ( losingyourjob.ie ) and an information booklet.