Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will confirm his commitment to MABS, which has an office in Tallaght; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24404/04]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been involved in activities to combat moneylending and over-indebtedness since 1988. Since then the number of money advice and budgeting services, MABS, has grown to 52 operating out of 65 centres throughout the country. There are 130 money advisers and 80 administrative staff working in the MABS. This represents an increase of 20 since June 2003. A total of almost €64 million has been provided to the service since 1992, including the allocation of €11.401 million in respect of 2004.

In 2003 the service helped approximately 16,000 new clients and had more than 13,000 active cases at any one time. The number of new clients has increased from 9,000 in 2001 and 12,000 in 2002. An average of 1,700 persons per month visit the MABS website at www.mabs.ie.

The key feature of the MABS programme is the provision of money advice, including the publication of information on money management and debt counselling. The service is targeted primarily at individuals and families who are on low income or in receipt of social welfare payments. It places an emphasis on practical, budget based measures which will succeed in removing people permanently from dependence on moneylenders and open up alternative sources of low cost credit through the credit unions. I am fully committed to supporting the service.