The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) operates from over 60 offices nationwide and works with clients experiencing difficulties with a wide range of personal debts including personal loans, mortgages, credit card debt, catalogue debts, debts to legal moneylenders and hire purchases. They operate and fulfill their mandate through 8 Regional Companies who collectively deliver nationwide coverage to its clients. MABS is funded and supported by the Citizens Information Board, the statutory body which supports the provision of information, advice and advocacy on a broad range of public and social services.
MABS Support CLG, is a new company established in February 2020 whose prime purpose is to provide support services to the MABS Regional Companies (8), ensuring that they can deliver a consistent, high-quality, money advice and budgeting service to those experiencing economic hardship and over-indebtedness. This is archived through a range of initiatives which include:
1. Provision of best practice & expert advice on client casework, to include a dedicated point of contact in matters that include legal, regulatory, technical, and strategy guidance on client cases.
2. Assisting the CIB MABS Service Delivery team and the MABS Regional Companies to implement Quality Standards for MABS and develop independent, impartial and transparent mechanisms to monitor the quality of service provided to the client.
3. Coordinate, in conjunction with the MABS regions, appropriate training and professional development including induction, accredited courses and e-learning modules for MABS staff. In addition to provide dedicated support and co-ordinate with the regions a Training Needs Analysis and development of a training plan for each Regional Company.
4. In cooperation with CIB and in consultation with the MABS Regional Companies, MABS Support will identify priorities for MABS research and submissions, setting out a Social Policy & Research plan for each year.
5. Maintenance, development and support of the MABS IT system on behalf of the MABS Regional Companies and support the transition to a new MABS Case Management System (currently in development) as well as providing scheduled and ad hoc reports and analysis to CIB and MABS Regional Companies.
6. Support CIB and the Regional Companies in their statutory remit to “promote and develop education in respect of money management”(Section 28cd of Social Welfare Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2008). This will also involve working with other statutory and voluntary agencies in terms of policy for preventing over-indebtedness, supporting vulnerable adults and financial inclusion.