Mr. Gerard O'Brien:

We hear much about the exceptional needs payment, ENP, that is available via the community welfare officers. It is there. It is in use. It is a very good assistance to people on the ground, including obviously people with disabilities who need it, and that is what is funding the transport costs. We hear about it in times of somewhat crisis. It would obviously be well-known to MABS because, as I said earlier, part of our remit is to maximise our clients' income, so if they are not getting the social welfare entitlements they are entitled to, we would be steering them in that direction. In many areas of the country, there has traditionally been a strong relationship between MABS and the community welfare officers. I have a sense that maybe the whole area of ENPs could do with a bit of highlighting to people with disabilities and other clients of MABS. We have had very successful collaborations with the community welfare service in the past, I am sure we do at present and, hopefully, we will have into the future. It is certainly something we tell our clients about.

To go back to what was mentioned earlier to stress it again, we have very strong ties in the communities. We have the outreach services. We can meet people, especially people with disabilities, in their homes. We have very good relations with other, we will say, NGOs such as St. Vincent de Paul as well, in order to help people maximise income and avail of services that are there to help them improve their financial situation. MABS, in having such a presence on the ground, has been successful and I am sure we will continue to be successful in that regard.