Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he is making to prevent the situation where many vulnerable people are being forced to use the services of money lenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23103/06]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the efforts he has made to tackle the financial exclusion from access to financial services for people on social welfare or on low incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23101/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 129 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 16.41 million euro in funding has been allocated to MABS in 2006, which represents an increase of in excess of twenty percent over the 2005 figure. 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 Saint 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.

Following the release of the report "Do the Poor Pay More" I met with the Irish Banking Federation (IBF) and the Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) and explored ways in which those in the low income bracket could access financial services. Since the introduction of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in 1992 a good working relationship has been developed between that service and the Irish Bankers Federation. The recent meeting identified a number of areas where it was felt that progress could be made in facilitating wider access to financial services.

MABS National Development Limited (MABSndl) was established in 2004 to support, promote and develop the MABS service. 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 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 Saint 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.

The Service at present is highly regarded and respected and it is important that this continues to be the case. It plays a vital role in assisting persons to be socially and financially included. It is my intention to have legislation enacted as early as possible in order to put the service on a sounder footing to continue its extremely important role in assisting people deal with indebtedness.