Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a money advice and budgeting service office will be opened to service Killarney and South Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25740/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems.

Currently a MABS office is located at Edward Court, Edward Street, Tralee, Co. Kerry, providing money advice and budgeting services to Co Kerry as a whole. In addition, outreach services are provided in Killarney town, as well as in Listowel. The current staff compliment consists of 7 full-time and 1 part-time staff.

The Citizens Information Board, who has responsibility for MABS on behalf of my Department, has received a proposal to establish a joint Citizens Information Centre (CIC) and MABS office in Killarney. This proposal is currently being considered in the context of maximising resources to deliver a more efficient service within existing funding allocations and decisions in this regard will be made in due course.

I am satisfied that Kerry MABS will continue to provide a high quality personal service to assist people in overcoming their indebtedness and managing their finances.