Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
676. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Social Protection the efforts made to ensure that additional resources are deployed to North Donegal Money Advice and Budgeting Service, MABS, following recent confirmation that it has the longest waiting list of all MABS offices across the State at 20 weeks, five times the State average. [38292/13]
View answerThe Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) , under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments
In 2013, the Citizens Information Board has been allocated a budget of approximately €47.5 million of which some €19 million has been assigned to MABS. In 2012 the corresponding allocation was €46.8 million and €18.3million respectively.
There are 277 money advice staff employed nationwide by the individual MABS companies. In 2013 16 additional temporary staff have been assigned to MABS for the establishment of the Approved Intermediary Service for the purpose of processing Debt Relief Notices as part of the new Insolvency Service of Ireland.
The most recent statistics available on waiting times from the first point of contact to first appointment with a money adviser, compiled to end of June 2013, record that the average waiting time is some 4.4 weeks. Over half of MABS services have a waiting time of 4 weeks or less, 13 MABS services have a waiting time above 4 weeks but no more than 6 weeks and eight have a waiting time greater than 6 weeks.
North Donegal MABS has its main office in Letterkenny and a sub-office in Buncrana and provides a service to the North and Eastern part of the county. There are two other MABS offices in the county, one in the Gaeltacht area (Derrybeg) and one in South Donegal (Donegal town).
North Donegal MABS has experienced an increased demand for services over recent years. From a regional perspective CIB has been monitoring demand in the area and is working closely with the three Donegal-based MABS companies to address client demand in North Donegal. Staff have been redeployed from outreach services to the main Letterkenny office, the full approved staffing level has been restored following a long term absence and additional resources have also been provided. The service will continue to review its processes and resources and engage with the other MABS services to reduce its waiting times.
