Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The motion refers to the possibility that people might turn to moneylenders at Christmas. There is not much evidence that there is a greater incidence of people turning to moneylenders, although I accept there is a danger it will happen at any time when people are vulnerable. That is why the money advice and budgeting service, MABS, exists to give advice to people about budgeting. More than 5,000 people have contacted MABS in person in the first three months of the year and more than 6,000 people have contacted the telephone helpline. It is interesting that 90% of those who contact the helpline can now have their issue dealt with over the phone.

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