Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the support he has given to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in view of the concerns expressed by the organisation that they are being swamped with requests for advice; his views on the increasing levels of personal debt among Irish families; his further views on whether the structures and organisation of MABS require reform to cope with these new circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31733/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when it is intended to place the Money Advice and Budgeting Service on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31732/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 197 together.

Many voluntary and statutory bodies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Community Welfare Service, credit unions, Citizens' Information Centres, Centres for the Unemployed and local authorities work closely with the programme. I am keen to get more quality information on the nature and trends of the debt encountered as well as the categories of people using the MABS so as to better inform policy around over-indebtedness and also enable the MABS to be even more responsive to its clients' needs.

In this respect, a new integrated software computer system, that is now being rolled out countrywide for use throughout the MABS network, will gather comprehensive statistical information that will provide valuable insights into the nature of the problems for people. The computer system, known as MABSIS, was delivered on time and within budget.

Last year almost 27,000 people used the service as compared with almost 18,000 some 4 years earlier. The growth in demand for the service can be attributed to the increase in the availability of credit and to the quality of the service provided by the MABS staff. This year I have increased the allocation from my Department to the MABS Service by in excess of twenty percent to assist the MABS in dealing with this increased workload.

I believe the support structure put in place by my Department for the MABS in recent years has worked well for clients of the service, for local management and for the staff. I also believe that a national system with delivery at the local level is the direction for the future. The MABS is highly regarded and respected and it is important that this continues to be the case.

My proposals for legislation aim to build on the best features of the MABS model of service to the public. The proposals will combine a continuation of local voluntary involvement with national leadership and ensure a high quality, coordinated budgeting and advice service for the future, in particular for people on low incomes. It is my intention to bring proposals before Government on this matter in the near future.