Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the budgeted expenditure for the Money, Advice and Budgeting Service for each of the past five years; the number of staff and advisers employed by MABS; the average and the longest waiting period for people availing of the service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47335/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number, in whole-time equivalent terms, of MABS personnel in each of the past three years. [47425/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 267 together.

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the main Government funded service which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. There are 53 independent companies with voluntary boards of management operating the local services throughout the country. There are currently 246 money advice staff equating to 218.3 whole time equivalents employed to provide the MABS services. In 2008 almost €18 million has been provided to fund the service. All MABS Companies operate an appointment system for meeting clients. Information is not available on the MABSIS on the waiting times for appointments at different offices. However, in all cases, clients with urgent difficulties are dealt with promptly. Less urgent cases are referred to the MABS National Telephone Helpline, 1890 382438 available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and to the MABS website www.mabs.ie available 24 hours for immediate assistance with budgeting and money management issues.

Tables 1 and 2 detail the amount of funding allocated to MABS in each year since 2004 and the whole time equivalent staffing levels for the last three years.