Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the introduction of a debt rescheduling service to take debt enforcement cases from the courts; and if he has conducted feasibility studies in relation to same. [36880/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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There are no immediate proposals to amend the law in relation to recovery of a civil debt, the procedure under which persons may be examined as to their means in the District Court, the system under which the Court may order payment to be made in full or by way of instalment, or the procedure regarding refusal of a court order to pay a civil debt. However, operation of the law is being kept under review in my Department. Moreover, debt enforcement forms part of the work programme of the Law Reform Commission.

Government policy in this area is reflected in the significant funding made available to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) which provides assistance to people on low incomes who need help to cope with debt problems. There are 53 independent companies nationwide with over 240 money advice staff operating the service. MABS National Telephone Helpline has operated since October 2007. Many voluntary and statutory bodies such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Community Welfare Service, the Credit Union Movement, Citizens Information Centres, Centres for the unemployed and local authorities work closely with the programme.