Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 599: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will consult staff on the structure of the proposed agency to take responsibility for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service; when he will publish the heads of the MABS Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9789/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. There are 52 independent companies with some 230 staff nationwide operating the service.

In 2006, €16.4 million was provided to fund the service and in 2007 I have further increased the annual allocation to €17.67 million to assist the MABS in dealing with its workload. In November 2005, I informed the MABS National Advisory Committee that I intended to review the MABS Bill 2002 and invited all MABS stakeholders to make submissions to me with a view to developing proposals for a modern streamlined MABS structure.

Fifteen submissions were received from MABS interests, including the National Executive Committee of money advice staff, a staff union and from some of the partner organisations that work with the MABS including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and FLAC. In addition, many local MABS companies submitted their views on the structure of the MABS in the format of a completed questionnaire which was organised at the initiative of the MABS National Advisory Committee.

I plan to bring proposals to Government shortly to establish MABS on a statutory basis. My proposals will take account of the significant developments which have taken place in MABS since the previous Bill was published in 2002 and will they have been informed by the submissions received and consultations I have had with a range of interests. Officials of my Department will consult further with all MABS stakeholders including MABS staff following Government consideration of these proposals.