Thomas Gould
Question:281. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has increased resourcing to MABS in view of the increase in financial insecurity within homes. [46260/22]
View answerThursday, 13 October 2022
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The Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through its provision of services directly to the public and through a network of service delivery companies.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), funded by the CIB, is the State’s money advice service and provides assistance to people, in particular those on low income or dependent on social welfare supports, who are over-indebted. As part of its free services, MABS also provides support to those in mortgage arrears and is an administrator of Abhaile - the national State funded Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service.
MABS comprises eight regional companies and each company has the flexibility to allocate resources appropriately in response to emerging customer needs. In addition, clients in a region have access to all MABS services of the region and can contact any money advisor in that region about their case by phone, email, online chat or video conferencing.
The latest MABS data, Quarter 2 2022, shows that while there is an increase in the number of persons (4,154 New Clients) using the Money Advice and Budgeting Service compared to Quarter 2 2021 (3,588 New Clients), the service has not reached the Pre-Covid 2019 Service levels (Quarter 2 2019 4,752).
My Department has allocated €23.54m to MABS for 2022. MABS will continue to be supported and developed through the Citizens Information Board, who are closely monitoring the service and any increase in demands.