Written answers
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
677. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expected waiting time for an appointment with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service per centre in tabular form. [55012/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.
MABS operate an appointment scheduling system and this means that in some cases clients may have to wait a number of days or weeks for the next available appointment. The table below sets out the average waiting times. However, clients can be seen immediately where necessary. In Q2 2022, 286 Emergency Clients were seen without any waiting period.
The MABS Helpline is available on 0818 07 2000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm) to support clients while they are awaiting their initial appointment with a MABS Money Adviser.
MABSClient Waiting Times & Numbers in Tabular Form Q2 2022
| Regions | Company | Waiting Time Average Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| DUBLIN SOUTH MABS | Clondalkin | 1.8 |
| Ballyfermot (Dublin 10 + 20) | 1.2 | |
| Lombard Street (Dublin South East) | 1.8 | |
| Dun Laoghaire | 1.4 | |
| Dundrum | 1.6 | |
| Tallaght | 0.6 | |
| NORTH CONNACHT & ULSTER MABS | Cavan | 1.0 |
| Donegal North | 2.2 | |
| Donegal South | 1.6 | |
| Donegal West | 0.2 | |
| Leitrim | 1.2 | |
| Monaghan | 1.2 | |
| Sligo | 1.0 | |
| NORTH DUBLIN MABS | Ballymun | 2.0 |
| Blanchardstown | 2.6 | |
| Coolock (Dublin North East) | 1.2 | |
| Dorset St (Dublin North City) | 1.6 | |
| Finglas | 1.8 | |
| *Swords (Fingal) | ||
| NORTH LEINSTER MABS | Athlone | 0.4 |
| Drogheda | 1.4 | |
| Dundalk | 1.0 | |
| Kildare | 0.6 | |
| Longford | 0.8 | |
| Meath | 1.0 | |
| Mullingar | 0.4 | |
| NORTH MUNSTER MABS | Clare | 1.2 |
| Limerick | 0.8 | |
| Tipperary North | 0.6 | |
| Tipperary South | 0.2 | |
| Waterford + Waterford West | 0.4 | |
| SOUTH CONNACHT MABS | *Galway North | |
| *Galway South (2 offices) | ||
| Mayo North | 1.8 | |
| Mayo South | 1.4 | |
| Roscommon | 0.6 | |
| SOUTH LEINSTER MABS | Arklow | 0.0 |
| Bray | 0.2 | |
| Carlow | 1.0 | |
| Kilkenny | 0.2 | |
| Laois | 0.6 | |
| Offaly | 0.0 | |
| Wexford | 0.0 | |
| SOUTH MUNSTER MABS | Charleville | 1.8 |
| Cork City | 0.0 | |
| Cork North | 1.8 | |
| Cork West | 1.2 | |
| Kerry | 1.2 |
*Waiting Times for these services were not available at time of publication.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
No comments