Finglas debt service sees 30 people per week

EVERY week 30 people visit an office in Finglas village seeking expert help.

Locals from the sprawling north Dublin district are either struggling with debt, or battling to avoid getting into a debt situation.

MABS, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, has been operating the office at 5 Church Street for the past 10 years.

Yesterday Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan described the service as “a beacon of light” for many.

Referring to the 30 interviews per week at the Finglas centre, the minister said this demonstrated the public had confidence in coming to the MABS in times of need.

Mr Brennan was launching Let’s Talk Money, a resource pack for money advisors and facilitators.

The primary aim of MABS, which is funded by the Department of Social Affairs, is to help people cope with debt and to take control of their own finances. The service is free, confidential and independent.

The new resources pack is aimed at enabling people who are most vulnerable to develop the knowledge and skills required to avoid getting into debt and to deal effectively with debt.

“MABS will frequently intervene to prevent repossession of the family home and also to prevent disconnection of gas and electricity supplies,” the minister said.

More than 16,000 new clients approach the MABS annually and the service deals with 30,000 clients on an ongoing basis.

Mr Brennan said the resource pack would be invaluable to staff in the MABS and also to people involved in the education of community groups.

“It has been recognised that many of those in the MABS target group have comprehension difficulties, not only in the area of reading and writing but also in capability and understanding,” he said.