The north Donegal Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has the highest waiting list in Ireland.
Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn
Out of the 51 centres across the country, the Donegal branch has a waiting time of 9.8 weeks – four times tha national average of 2.5 weeks.
Reacting to the news Sinn Féin TD, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to “once and for all give North Donegal Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) the resources they require.”
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said “It is now over a year ago since I revealed that North Donegal MABS had the highest waiting times. It was then five times the state average.
“Following my revelation, I met with the local MABS team along with local Sinn Féin Cllrs Mick Quinn, Gerry McMonagle and Jack Murray. We learned that they were overwhelmed with the demand they faced and complexity of the debt cases they worked on”.
“We made representations to Government and some extra resources were allocated. While the waiting times have reduced, I have now learned that North Donegal MABS still have the highest waiting times.”
H added it is no accident that only Limerick is close to North Donegal for waiting times as they are also the communities closest to North Donegal in terms of unemployment and poverty levels.
“I am now calling on the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to wake up and smell the coffee and to once and for all ensure that North Donegal MABS are given the resources they need to meet the demand they face for their services.”
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