Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 313: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to expand the Monetary Advice and Budgeting Service to alleviate the waiting period which is currently ten weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18773/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. The role of money advisors is to help clients to assess their financial situation, make a budget plan and deal with creditors.

There are 52 independent MABS companies operating the local MABS services from 65 locations throughout the country, with national support provided by the MABS NDL. In addition, the MABS National Telephone Helpline is available from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and the MABS website can be accessed 24 hours a day at www.mabs.ie. Some 90% of clients presenting to MABS are assisted through the telephone helpline, which provides assisted self-help to ensure clients take steps to assess and address their situation.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB), who has responsibility for MABS, compiles information on the waiting times in each MABS office on a quarterly basis and posts it to the www.mabs.ie website. The most recent statistics available record that the average waiting time from first point of contact to first appointment with a money advisor is some 6 weeks. This is the average nationally and there are fluctuations between offices.

The focus of MABS is in ensuring clients get the level of support they need and as such client assessments and effective case management are important components of the overall approach. During the waiting period, clients are assessed and those in need of immediate assistance are given a priority appointment, others are provided with assisted self-help to ensure that they have taken steps to assess their situation and if appropriate they are supported to take holding action with their creditors.

Since April, the CIB have put a new organisational structure in place, which enables CIB regional managers to get a greater insight into the nature of supports required by MABS companies on the ground to deliver an effective service. In addition the CIB is currently looking at the processes being used by MABS companies with a view to a consistent approach being taken to managing waiting times, taking account of service capacity across the network of companies.

There are no plans to expand MABS to deal with wating times. I am satisfied that the changes being implemented by CIB will ensure that customers requiring assistance will receive the supports they require in a timely and effective manner.