Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her plans to open a Money Advice and Budgeting Service office in a town (details supplied) in County Tipperary in view of the fact that residents have to travel a distance to get to the nearest office; if not, the reason for same; the percentage increase in the number of clients seen in the north Tipperary Money Advice and Budgeting Service offices in 2009 in comparison to the same period in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40379/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently two MABS offices in north Tipperary: Nenagh and Thurles. There are no plans to open a MABS office in Roscrea.

Members of the public can get money advice, assistance and support from MABS through three channels:

· The MABS National Telephone Helpline – LoCall 1890 283438, is available from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday;

· The MABS website www.mabs.ie provides online money management and budgeting advice through the MABS self-help guide and can be accessed 24 hours a day;

· Local personal services are available at over 65 locations throughout the country providing a face-to- face service for people, by appointment.

The Helpline handles straight-forward 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.

There has been an increase of some 50% in the caseload in north Tipperary offices. A total of 226 new clients have sought advice and assistance up to the end of September 2009 compared with 208 for the full year of 2008. To address the increased case load an additional half-time post has been approved for north Tipperary MABS. The post is expected to be filled shortly. I am confident that the provision of the additional resource will strengthen the service for people in north Tipperary.