Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will transfer surplus civil servants on a temporary basis to the Money Advice and Budgetary Service in Coolock, Dublin 5 to deal with the six week waiting list to meet a money advisor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12695/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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 MABS companies with voluntary boards of management operating the local MABS services from 65 locations throughout the country. In addition, the MABS National Telephone Helpline is available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, at lo-call number 1890 283 438. Budgeting and money management information can be accessed 24 hours a day at www.mabs.ie. In 2009, almost €18 million has been provided to assist the MABS in dealing with its workload. Six additional full-time and part-time staff have been allocated to the local services. The capacity of the telephone helpline has been strengthened. MABSndl, which is the national support company, has introduced a number of community education and other initiatives to assist the local services in managing their increased caseloads. Some 252 money advice staff are employed throughout the country in the MABS. Dublin north-east MABS has four money advice staff at present. Applications for funding for additional staff are being kept under review should further funding become available for additional posts. There are no plans to transfer civil servants to the MABS at this time.

All MABS companies, including Dublin north-east MABS, operate an appointment system for meeting clients. Clients with urgent difficulties are prioritised for attention and dealt with promptly. Less urgent cases are referred to the telephone helpline and to the MABS website. Over 90% of callers to the helpline find that their money management and budgeting issues can be resolved with the assistance of the helpline advisor. Some 10% of callers are referred to the local MABS for appointment. In addition, the helpline is assisting local services, including Dublin north-east MABS, to manage their appointment lists by providing an initial preliminary MABS service to clients and ongoing support while they await their appointment with their local money advisor. The MABS advises that people coping with debt difficulties should take early action. An approach to the MABS can be the first positive step in addressing debt difficulties. The MABS provides a high quality personal service to members of the public that helps many to cope with and overcome the burden of indebtedness that can have such an impact on their lives and those of their families.