Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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322. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will make a commitment that more staff will be made available to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40614/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is made up of a network of 53 companies which includes 51 local companies and 2 national companies, MABSNDL and National Traveller MABS. The number of new clients and Helpline callers dealt with by MABS over the last number of years has remained relatively steady, the details of which are listed in the table.

In 2013, the Citizens Information Board has been allocated a budget of approximately €47.5 million of which some €19 million has been assigned to MABS. In 2012 the corresponding allocation was €46.8 million and €18.3 million respectively.

There are 277 money advice staff employed across the MABS network. In 2013, 16 additional temporary staff were assigned to MABS for the establishment of the Approved Intermediary Service for the purpose of processing Debt Relief Notices as part of the new insolvency arrangements under Insolvency Service of Ireland.

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 and that the additional resources assigned will ensure that MABS will play an important role in the new arrangements for assisting peoples with debt difficulties.