Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of calls the money advice and budgeting service's recently introduced low call telephone number has received in its first month of operation; the details of advertising campaigns to make people aware of this new service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28897/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The MABS National Helpline, Lo-call number 1890 283 438 (1890 BUDGET), was formally launched on 4th October 2007. The Helpline operates Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and it provides an accessible and confidential support service for those experiencing debt problems. Up to 9th November, the National Telephone Helpline has received over 1000 calls.

Posters advertising the new telephone service have been distributed throughout the MABS network, to Social Welfare Local and Branch Offices, the offices of the Community Welfare Service, Society of St Vincent De Paul conferences, Parochial Houses, Citizen Information Centres and Credit Unions throughout the country.

In addition notifications about the service have been issued to the main creditor organisations with which money advisors have regular contact, including the ESB and Board Gáis. Plans are now being developed for a national advertising campaign to further promote the new service to the people in their own locality. It is envisaged that the campaign will commence in late January /early February 2008. Information about budgeting and a self help money management facility is also available on-line at the MABS website www.mabs.ie.

MNDSAs part of this process, my Department, with the co-operation of FÁS, the Office of the Minister for Children and the Department of Education and Science, are testing the non-income activation proposals in Coolock, Dublin and in Kilkenny. These tests are focused on identifying and resolving any practical and administrative issues that may arise in advance of the scheme being introduced. The tests are expected to run until the end of the year, with a report then being made to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. They will allow for operational and logistical co-ordination between the relevant Departments and Agencies to be considered and will facilitate the development of the policy and operational details of the new scheme and accompanying supports. The nationwide roll out of these reforms will follow the completion of the tests.