Minister pleads for extra cash for MABS offices

Government funding is being sought to recruit extra staff to help recession-hit families with money worries, it emerged today.

Householders currently face a four-week waiting list to see experts in their local Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) offices.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Hanafin, said she was in talks with Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan to free up more Government funding to increase staffing levels.

MABS, which has more than 250 staff at 65 locations throughout the country, is already set to receive €18m for its work in 2009.

Ms Hanafin said more than 5,200 new clients were seen by MABS officials in the first three months of this year and almost 6,300 calls were dealt with by the service’s national telephone helpline.

Article courtesy of the Evening Echo newspaper.