Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the role of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service will be enhanced with corresponding additional resources for assisting over indebted citizens in view of the preparation of the reformed personal insolvency legislation. [2588/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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1The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems.

The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 provided for the transfer of responsibility for MABS to the Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of my Department, in July 2009 in order to provide strong management and other supporst to the local voluntary MABS companies in the provision of a high quality service to meet the needs of people encountering debt difficulties. The role of money advisers is to help clients to assess their financial situation, make a budget plan and deal with creditors.

In 2012 funding of some €18 million has been provided to support the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS). Sanction has recently been received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the retention of 12 temporary posts within the MABS network for a further two year period and I am satisfied that MABS will continue to provide a high quality personal service to assist people in overcoming their indebtedness and managing their finances.

The Dept of Finance has established a high level Steering Group to oversee and drive the overall implementation of the recommendations of the Inter-Departmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group and will report regularly to the EMC. My Department is represented on this group. The future contribution of MABS will be considered in line with commitments in the Programme for Government, recommendations contained in the reports of the Law Reform Commission on Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement, the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt and the Inter-Departmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group.

The Minister for Justice and Equality and Defense has produced an initial General Scheme of a Personal Insolvency Bill, this is being finalised for consideration by Government this month before it is available for publication.