Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if additional funding will be provided to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in Tallaght, Dublin 24 to deal with the extra pressure on MABS; the services that are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19851/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Members of the public can get money advice, assistance and support from MABS through three channels: · The MABS National Telephone Helpline – LoCall 1890 283438, 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.

In response to the increased demand for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) in Tallaght, additional funding was approved in 2009 for the recruitment of an extra full-time money advisor. This additional post is in place since 2nd November 2009.

I am satisfied that the additional resources provided to Tallaght will assist them to meet the demand for their services.