Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1367. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will expand the Money Advice and Budgeting Service to include a specialised support stream for over-50s, focusing on pension rights, the fair deal nursing home scheme and debt management in later life. [45603/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), a statutory body under the aegis of my Department, is the State’s money advice service and provides assistance to people, in particular those on low income or dependent on social welfare supports, who are over-indebted. As part of its free services, MABS also provides support to those in mortgage arrears and is an administrator of Abhaile - the national State funded Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service.

MABS is a free, independent, confidential and non- judgmental money advice and budgeting service for all members of the public. MABS Money Advisers work with clients who may have difficulties with a wide range of personal debts including personal loans, mortgages, credit card debt, catalogue debts, debts to legal money lenders and hire purchases. MABS provide in-person support to help a person complete a household budget. Maximising a persons’ income is a key part of this support in terms of ensuring that the person is receiving all of the entitlements relevant to them, for example a medical card and relevant social welfare payments.

MABS staff guide clients through a money advice process and are mindful of the fact that income levels will change later in life, as well as changing needs, and any debt repayment arrangements would need to reflect this. MABS also offer Money Management Education sessions in local community groups such as Men’s Sheds and Women’s Sheds within the region.

MABS staff refer clients with queries relating to pensions and the Fair Deal nursing home scheme to Citizens Information Services, also funded by my Department, whose staff are trained to handle more complex and specific queries in these areas. The Citizens Information Services staff provide free, impartial and confidential information, advice and advocacy services to the public.

MABS comprises eight regional companies and each company has the flexibility to allocate resources appropriately in response to emerging customer needs. In 2025, my Department has provided funding of €17.35m to the eight regional MABS companies. MABS clients in each region have access to all MABS services and can contact any money advisor in that region about their case by phone, email, online chat or video conferencing.