Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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441. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will urgently re-visit the funding of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in order that the highly valued work undertaken by dedicated mortgage advisors can continue beyond the current funding expiration date of 30 November 2023; if she will consider making dedicated mortgage advisor positions permanent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11291/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Dedicated Mortgage Arrears Services (DMA) is delivered by the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), a funded company of the Citizens Information Board (CIB). It forms part of the suite of services offered under Abhaile - the national State funded Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service.

CIB is a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, and, as Minister for Social Protection, I have joint responsibility for oversight of the Abhaile service with the Minister for Justice. I absolutely recognise and value the important work carried out by the DMA service and its advisors in supporting people in mortgage arrears.

In relation to your reference of a 'funding expiration date of 30 November 2023', please note that in November 2022, the Government agreed to an extension of the Abhaile service, including the Dedicated Mortgage Arrears service, for one year to 31 December 2023.

This decision was made having regard to emerging findings from a Strategic Review of Abhaile, which is expected to be completed shortly. The findings of this Review will be taken into account when Government considers the long-term delivery of Abhaile, including the Dedicated Mortgage Arrears service. On completion of the Review, my colleague the Minister for Justice and l will present a joint memorandum to Government in this regard.