Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

It would be helpful for the Minister to commit to publishing the waiting times on a quarterly basis so that people might know which office to approach. MABS was established with a completely different brief from the demands placed on it now. It was set up to help people better manage their money in circumstances where they might have run up rent arrears or whatever. In many cases MABS is ill-equipped to deal with the serious financial difficulties with which people are now presenting. As the Minister said a completely unregulated financial advisory service is being offered and that needs to be regulated. There is need for the Minister or the Minister for Finance to introduce a package of measures to assist people who find themselves in danger of losing their homes. That level of expertise is simply not available within the MABS service.

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