Fermanagh CAB was set up in 1976 to to alleviate poverty and promote social change. We are one of 28 Citizens Advice Bureaux in N. Ireland working to meet the information, advice, advocacy and representation needs of 220,000 people per annum across the province and almost 12,000 people per annum in the Fermanagh District Council area. We are independent and provide a free, confidential and impartial advice, information, advocacy and representation service in regard to Social Security, Housing, Employment, Consumer, Money/Debt Advice,Cross-Border Legal Issues,Relationship/Family including Domestic Violence, Health, Community Care and Immigration.
We have five Specialist Advice Projects, Rural Outreach Project, Money/Debt Advice Project, Disability Advocacy Project, Borderwise Cross Border Project and Mental Health Project (in partnership with N.I. Association for Mental Health). Details of these can be accessed under Services and Key Personnel.
OPENING HOURS - MAIN BUREAU
Monday to Friday
9.30 am to 1.00 pm - Telephone advice line and appts.
2.00 pm to 4.00 pm - Specialist Advice appointments.
www.citizensadvice.co.uk
Philomena McCaughey Rural Outreach Adviser
Philomena provides advice, information and advocacy on all aspects of CAB's work including Social Security, Housing, Employment, Consumer, Relationship/Family including Domestic Violence, Health, Community Care and Immigration.
Philomena provides outreach in four different outreach clinics in Co. Fermanagh
Stepping Stones, Station Road, Belleek. Monday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
Carn Court, Roslea - Tuesday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon.
Castle Park Centre, Lisnaskea - Tuesday 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.
ARC Healthy Living Centre, Irvinestown - Wednesday 10.00 to 1.00 pm.
Additionally, Philomena provides home visits to elderly and disabled people and those otherwise housebound. Because of the demand for the Rural Outreach service, it is advisable for people to contact the bureau to make an appointment with Philomena.
Kevin Lawrenson Money/Debt Adviser
Many people are in debt these days and very few people can manage to live their lives without credit. However, problems occur when something happens in our lives that we have been unable to plan for such as losing a job, becoming ill, or a relationship breakdown. In such circumstances many people may find themselves in a debt situation that they cannot cope with. In his work, Kevin seeks to empower each individual client to break the cycle of credit dependence and resolve financial dificulties in a way that restores self-confidence and dignity. In so doing, he will assist clients to:-
Deal with priority creditors (people to pay first);
Contact all other creditors;
Work out a financial statement (how much a client has coming in and going out of their household);
Makes offers of payment to creditors;
and ensure you understand the process he follows.
In particular circumstances, Kevin will advocate on behalf of clients who wish to pursue an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or Bankruptcy, if appropriate.
Kevin sees clients by appointment only and it is therefore advisable to contact the Bureau prior to coming in to see him.
Mairead McElroy Disability Advocacy Officer
Mairead represents clients at a range of Disability, Social Security and Medical Appeal Tribunals. Over the past year, this service has been provided to 165 clients. Mairead provides a supportive role to clients as well as advocating on their behalf. The majority of clients are vulnerable and suffering from a disability, e.g. those with learning/mental health and physical disabilities, elderly people and children. The appeal process is lengthly and complex. Fermanagh CAB, in line with Citizens Advice Bureau’s commitment to a completely free service, continue to provide free representation to clients at tribunals. Provision of such a service is vital as the service provided by Solicitors and other representatives who charge fees cannot be availed off by the vast majority of our clients who are living on poverty level Social Security Benefits. Taking a client through the appeal process takes at least 5-6 month from start to finish. The length of time spent on each case will vary depending on how complex the case is. On average, between 5-8 hrs is spent preparing for each case. Clients report that they find the appeal process bureaucratic and full of red-tape. A large proportion of our clients would not be able to go through the appeal process without the help and assistance of Citizens Advice Bureau.
Gary McIntyre Borderwise Adviser
The North-South Ministerial Council identified in their report Obstacles to Mobility the need for a dedicated Cross-Border Information Service. In response the Borderwise Project was developed by Citizens Advice and Comhlaire. Gary has been employed in Fermanagh CAB and Monaghan CIC since 2003 as part of this project. To date, Borderwise have dealt with in excess of 8,000 cases in regard to such issues as Social Security/Social Welfare, Employment, Health, Taxation, Consumer Law. A significant number of these cases are on behalf of Frontier Workers i.e. those living on one side of the border and working on the other. They request information on their tax liability, health service entitlements and from which jurisdication family benefits are paid from. A further significant number are those who have moved or are planning to move from one jurisdiction to the other and wanting to know the implications of such a move. We have also identified that many emigrants are returning in significant numbers and present with similar queries. An ever growing area of work is in regard to the rights of Migrant Workers and their advice and information requirements in regard to Social Security, Housing, Employment, Immigration and other matters. Gary also represents clients at cross-border appeals/tribunals.
