The State-funded Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the main source of free, independent advice and support for citizens experiencing over-indebtedness in Ireland. In addition, there are a number of private practitioners who facilitate access to certain personal insolvency mechanisms, and charitable/civil society groups who offer advice and support in relation to specific dimensions of personal debt.

• Voluntary Solutions:
  
  

  MABS provides an empowering advocacy service which assists people to reach voluntary arrangements with their creditors. MABS’ Money Advisers support, and where appropriate advocate on behalf of, clients to enable people to reach sustainable, affordable, realistic repayment arrangements with their creditors. MABS also support clients to maximise their household incomes through accessing their entitlements, check the liability and enforceability of related debts, and also that due process has been followed in terms of debt enforcement.

• Statutory Solutions:
  
  

  There are four types of statutory debt solution in Ireland, following the introduction of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, as amended. The Debt Relief Notice (DRN) is targeted at low income, low asset, insolvent debtors; DRNs are administered primarily through MABS Money Advisers who are authorised to do so by the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI). The second, the Debt Settlement Arrangement (DSA), targeted at those with unsecured debt in excess of €35,000 is administered by Personal Insolvency Practitioners (generally qualified accountants) again authorised by the ISI. The third, the Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA), is targeted at insolvent debtors with both secured and unsecured debt and is also administered by Personal Insolvency Practitioners (PIPs). If none of these options are suitable, the fourth possible statutory option is bankruptcy which is operated by way of a public official, the Official Assignee.

• Abhaile (Irish word for home)
  
  

  Launched in 2016, Abhaile is a State-funded service to help those in family home mortgage arrears find a resolution to these and related insolvency problems. There are five service elements to this initiative which is a joint initiative of relevant government departments and associated statutory bodies. The first two of these are court-based services provided by way of MABS Court Mentors and Legal Aid Board Duty Solicitors who attend court at repossession sittings to provide advice and support to otherwise unrepresented borrowers. The second set of services are financial and insolvency services; these are provided by way of MABS’ specialists in the form of Dedicated Mortgage Arrears Advisers (DMA) and vouchers which facilitate consultations with private Personal Insolvency Practitioners (PIPs). The third and final dimension to Abhaile consists of legal services and supports; again, a voucher system facilitates a consultation, in this case with a consultation solicitor around legal aspects of mortgage arrears and insolvency. Finally, where a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA) has been rejected by creditors, a review service is available to challenge this rejection in Court which has the power to over-rule the objection to the proposal.

• Mortgage to Rent
  
  

  The government’s Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme is targeted at homeowners who are at risk of losing their family home due to mortgage arrears. It facilitates homeowners in mortgage difficulty to switch from owning their home to renting it as a social housing tenant.

• Citizens Information Services
  
  

  MABS delivery partner Citizens Information Services also provide up to date information on their website. This website provides links to all new payments available from our social welfare system.

• Insolvency Service of Ireland
  
  

  The Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) is an independent government organisation. The ISI maintains and monitors all Personal Insolvency Practitioners, Approved Intermediaries and also maintains the register of Insolvency Arrangements. The ISI also plays a central role in the bankruptcy process.