Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he is making to prevent the situation where many vulnerable persons are being forced to use the services of money lenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30869/05]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to advise citizens, especially those in vulnerable groups, of the risks of becoming heavily indebted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30976/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 92 together.

My Department has overall responsibility for the money advice and budgeting service, MABS, which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted. A total of €13.6 million in funding has been allocated to MABS in 2005. The service is targeted at those who are on low income or in receipt of social welfare payments. There are 52 MABS companies located in 65 offices throughout the country.

The money advice and budgeting service has a close and ongoing involvement with my Department at local level. Representatives of the Department are on the boards of management of MABS companies. Membership is also drawn from statutory and voluntary bodies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, credit unions, citizens information centres and the community welfare service. These representatives in turn raise awareness of issues around over-indebtedness in their parent bodies.

New posters with local contact details have been circulated to all the MABS offices. These posters will also be displayed in all social welfare offices and health centres as well as other appropriate locations. Information on MABS is also contained on its website www.mabs.ie.

A new company MABS National Development Limited was established in 2004 to support, promote and develop the MABS service. The company has recruited a national development team comprised of a social policy-communications officer, a community education officer, and three casework technical support officers.

The company is currently working on the development of a national strategy in community education which will be implemented by the 52 MABS companies. This strategy will seek to empower individuals and communities in developing the skills necessary to deal with debt situations as they arise.

The MABS development company is also devising a strategy to assist the MABS local services to improve further the take up of the money advice and budgeting service by those on low income. Recent initiatives to inform the target group of the MABS include media interviews, co-operation with the one parent exchange network, OPEN, the National Adult Literacy Agency, NALA, the Courts Service information section, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Age Action and hospital social workers.

My Department ensures that MABS information and contact details are included in all relevant social welfare publications and information material produced by the Department. The level of response to MABS indicates there is a high level of awareness of the service. However, I will continue to examine any proposals that would further extend the level of public awareness.