Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she is satisfied with the capacity of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service to negotiate on people's behalf with financial institutions and sub-prime lenders in relation to mortgage arrears; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34267/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The money advisors throughout the country focus on providing assistance, advice and intense support to people who have financial difficulties. The money advisor works out a budget, negotiates on behalf of the client with all creditors including financial institutions and sub-prime lenders, to secure better terms for the client in managing the repayment of their debts. Where required by the client, the money advisor can assist with setting up a special account with their local Credit Union into which an agreed amount of money is lodged regularly and from which each month the money advisor makes the repayments to the creditors on behalf of the client. They provide ongoing support to people who successfully overcome their financial difficulties. Focused training programmes designed to equip money advice staff and local management boards to meet the demands on the services are provided by MABS NDL the national support company. In addition, MABS NDL has introduced a number of community education and other initiatives to assist the local services in managing their increased caseloads. These include a money management education programme for people facing redundancy to inform them about managing on a reduced income and how to avoid getting into debt.

Under the statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears published by the Financial Regulator, all financial institutions including the banks and sub-prime mortgage lenders must, where circumstances warrant it, refer a borrower in difficulty for guidance to a local MABS office or to an appropriate alternative.

A new operational protocol 'Working Together to Manage Debt' is now in place and is the result of almost 2 years work by MABS NDL, the national support company for the MABS network and the Irish Banking Federation (IBF), the main representative body for the banking and financial services sector. The protocol sets out an agreed process by which IBF members and the MABS money advisors will approach debt problems experienced by clients. The protocol includes a commitment that no legal action will be taken as long as there is compliance by the client with an agreed repayment plan. I am confident that the MABS is well equipped to provide a high quality personal service to assist people in overcoming their indebtedness and managing their finances.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the waiting times to access the Money Advice and Budgeting Service money advisers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34264/09]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will arrange for the waiting times for each Money Advice and Budgeting Service office to be published on a regular basis. [34398/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 165 together.

There are 53 local independent MABS companies operating nationwide. Each MABS is an independent legal entity, being a company limited by guarantee with a Board of Directors drawn from local voluntary and statutory services and community groups. Each MABS company runs their local MABS service. Each company has a 3 year contract which covers funding and service delivery commitments.

All MABS companies operate an appointment system for meeting with clients. Clients with urgent difficulties are prioritised for attention and are dealt with promptly. Less urgent cases are referred to the Telephone Helpline and to the MABS website in the first instance. The Helpline can now handle less complex straight forward single debt cases such as threatened utility disconnections and deals directly with the ESB and An Bord Gais in relation to these cases. 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 assistance. The telephone Helpline also assists local services to manage their appointment lists by providing an initial MABS service to clients and ongoing support while they await their appointment with their local money advisor.

Local services monitor their waiting times for appointments and, where required, seek guidance and assistance in managing their caseload from MABS NDL, the national support company. Information is not currently collected centrally on waiting times for appointments at different MABS offices throughout the country.