There are 50 local money advice and budgeting service, MABS, projects throughout the country. Details of the projects and their locations are set out in a table which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.
New projects in County Leitrim and in south Mayo are being established. Finglas MABS is expanding its catchment area to include Cabra. When these are complete, the service will be available throughout the State.
The local projects, funded by the Department and managed by a committee drawn from local voluntary and statutory services and community groups, operate in partnership with other relevant agencies. The projects are independent information and advice providers, rooted in the local community.
The MABS programme budget has grown from £260,000, six projects, in 1992 to £4,542,000, 50 projects, this year.
An independent review of the MABS service is currently in progress. This review will consider how the programme is meeting its objectives and whether it is doing so in the most effective and efficient way possible. It is also intended that this review will be used to agree a strategic plan for the future development of the service so that it fully targets those who need it most. It is anticipated that a final social impact report on the MABS programme will be available shortly.