There was a great turn out at the Holiday Inn Hotel for the launch of the Dublin South East Money Advice and Budgeting Service, which is based in Pearse St.

Carrying out the honours on the day was the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern.

The vital service of supporting individuals and families in financial difficulties is the main aim of this great venture. The chairman of MABS, Mr Jim Prew explained how their client base had grown to service the Dublin 2, 4 and 6 regions since its foundation in 1994.

The service requires the employment of two money advisers, Lorraine Waters and Margaret Walsh, with Catherine Humphreys carrying out the administrative work. Confidentiality, concern and support are the key words to describe the nature of MABS work.

In a very detailed outline of the day to day work carried out by the team, Senior Money Adviser, Lorraine Waters explained how help with structuring a personal or household budget is the foundation of financial well-being.

Lorraine believes that this process should begin in primary school. She also pointed out that the magnificent support of the ESB, Telecom, and our three local branches of the Credit Union, in Sandymount, Ringsend and Pearse Street were the foundation stones of the service’s success.
Fulsome tributes were also paid to Minister Dermot Ahern, whose department provides funding for MABS.

Christmas time drives home the demands on a nottoo-healthy purse. But with careful management of funds things can work out.

Back Row, left to right: John Wilson, Fiona ward, Joe Grennell, Conor OMurchú, Joe Moran.

Front row, left to right: Alan Petrie, Michelle Relihan, Tommy Owens, Minister Dermot Ahern, Jim Prew, Michael Corr, Catherine Humphreys, Margaret Walsh and Lorraine Waters. Absent from this photo are Geraldine Murphy and Lorraine Malone.