Busy Year For Budgeting Service As More Staff Assigned To Six MABS offices

Some 16,600 new clients were seen by MABS. An additional 2,400 sought information about budgeting and money management from the local services and the MABS National Helpline received almost 11,000 calls.

This year 252 staff will be helping customers who are experiencing debt and financial difficulty, based in offices in 65 locations throughout the country.

Minister Hanafin said, "additional full and part-time staff have been allocated to the following six MABS offices: Leitrim MABS, Longford MABS, North Cork MABS, Clondalkin MABS, Dundrum/Rathfarnham MABS and Wexford MABS.

"This will ensure that people in debt seeking advice on their personal finances can access that advice promptly."

The latest figures show that the total amount owed by new clients in 2008 to creditors, based on the debt they had when they first came to the MABS, amounted to €205 million, with 64% of this owed to banks/financial institutions and 16% owed to credit unions.

The average debt owed, by new clients when they first came to MABS, was in the region of €12,400

Just over half of new clients (53%) were in the age group 26-40 with a further third aged between 41-65.

Almost two-thirds of new clients were female. The highest numbers of new clients are single (23%) or single with children (21%), while 19% are married with children and 20% are separated/divorced/widowed.

The Minister encouraged people not to put off dealing with debt, saying, "by going to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), people in debt are taking a positive step.

"The worst thing that someone can do is to ignore mounting bills.

"At MABS, they will get non-judgemental, confidential and independent advice.

"MABS money advisors will help clients to assess their financial situation, make a budget plan for the future and deal with creditors."

The Department of Social and Family Affairs is providing almost €18 million to fund MABS in 65 locations throughout the country

Minister Hanafin reminded Social Welfare customers that they can also avail of the An Post Household Budgeting facility.

The Minister said, "this free service allows customers decide how much to pay towards utilities like ESB, gas, telephone or rent from their weekly social welfare payment. This easy-pay option will be of great assistance in enabling customers to budget on a weekly basis for their household bills."