Padraig Mac Lochlainn
Donegal North East Sinn Féin TD, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has described confirmation that the North Donegal Money Advice Budgeting Service (MABS) has an average waiting time of 20 weeks, five times the state average of four weeks, as “shocking”.
He called on Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton to ensure that additional resources are deployed to North Donegal MABs as a matter of urgency.
The waiting times for North Donegal MABS are the highest of all 51 MABs offices across the state. North Donegal MABS also has the highest number of number of people awaiting their first appointment at 160.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “This shocking confirmation from the Minister is in response to a parliamentary question from my colleague; Deputy Pearse Doherty needs to be urgently addressed.
“It is clear that North Donegal MABS have not got the necessary resources and staff numbers to meet the demand from families in debt across North Donegal.
“It confirms the worst fears of my party members. Recently, my colleagues, Cllrs Mick Quinn and Gerry McMonagle highlighted the debt crisis in Donegal and called on families in debt to seek advice and assistance from organisations like MABS before they engage with banks. These waiting times may force families under pressure from banks to agree to unsustainable and unfair debt repayment agreements. This is totally unacceptable.
“I will be making representations to the Minister to deploy additional resources and I will be monitoring these waiting times closely over the time ahead”