News
Three Small Changes Programme
National Traveller MABS is a leading advocate for the financial inclusion of Travellers in Ireland.
Read more: Three Small Changes ProgrammeWorried About Debt! Contact MABS
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is concerned that there is an increasing number of people in debt attending court who have no legal representative to support them. Many have never had any dealings with the legal process, are intimidated by it and are often fearful and confused.
Read more: Worried About Debt! Contact MABSRecoupment of Social Welfare Overpayments
Overpayments of social welfare can arise due to a range of reasons such as administrative errors on behalf of Department of Social Protection, genuine misunderstanding on behalf of recipients and fraud.
Read more: Recoupment of Social Welfare OverpaymentsMABS Assisted 300,000 people during the financial crisis.
MABS, the State’s response to helping those in debt, has assisted 291,486 people with their financial difficulties since 2009.
Read more: MABS Assisted 300,000 people during the financial crisis.Ethnic Monitoring
Ethnic monitoring is the proactive gathering and use of data by service providers to ensure that a services offered can reasonably accommodate the specific needs of users from different ethnic groups and that services does not discriminate against those groups.
Read more: Ethnic MonitoringTraveller Youth Forum
National Traveller MABS were delighted to host a Traveller Youth Forum in Croke Park on December 10th, 2014. The forum was attended by over 40 young Travellers from around Ireland.
Read more: Traveller Youth ForumNTMABS Newsletters
The latest editions of both our newsletters are available. The Tharie Times inform MABS and CIS staff of issues pertaining to the Traveller community. The National Traveller MABS Newsletter informs the Traveller community of issues relating to personal finance.
Read more: NTMABS NewslettersLough Payment Scheme
National Traveller MABS have been delighted with the response from politicians on our position paper on the ending of the Lough Payment Scheme.
Read more: Lough Payment SchemeClare Focus Week
National Traveller MABS were delighted to showcase their work during Clare Traveller Focus week in Ennis in November 2014. We hosted a stand during an event to celebrate Traveller culture and achievements. The event celebrated the achievements of Travellers locally with renowned singer Mary Keenan entertaining the crowd.
Read more: Clare Focus WeekUpdate on Lough Payment Scheme
As many of you are aware, there was a decision early this year to end the Lough Payment Scheme. The scheme is an extension of the Household Budget Scheme and operates for MABS clients.
Read more: Update on Lough Payment SchemeAll Youth are most welcome to National Traveller MABS Youth Forum
Croke Park
Wednesday 10th December
We are on Facebook
We are delighted to announce that we are now on facebook please click here to follow NTMABS.
Budget 2015
Was announced on 14 October 2014. The main changes that may affect members of the Traveller community are set out below. This is not a complete statement of the measures announced in Budget 2015.
Read more: Budget 2015News on Water Charges
As we are aware, the controversy with Irish Water continues. The latest update, due to change with the expected announcement by government, is that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) agreed to extend the application deadline for all to 30th November 2014.
Read more: News on Water ChargesRent Allowance
During July and August 2014, Citizens Information Service recorded that the main areas of concern for clients were Supplementary Welfare Schemes (12%). 65% of clients presenting with Supplementary Welfare Schemes issues were concerned with Rent Supplement.
Read more: Rent AllowanceJobs Week
Jobs Week is a series of jobseeker and employer events which will take place across the country from Monday 29th September to Friday 3rd October.
Read more: Jobs WeekWant To Go Back To Education?
The Back To Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time further education courses mainly for people with less than upper second-level education.
Read more: Want To Go Back To Education?NASC Launches Everyday Racism Campaign Video
“Stop. See racism. Stand up” is the central message of a new anti-racism video Nasc is launching today as part of the EverydayRacism – 30 Days Of Action’ campaign.
Read more: NASC Launches Everyday Racism Campaign VideoThe Tharie Times
Our latest edition is now available.The theme of this issue is Traveller Ethnicity, please click on link. to read.
Water Charges
Water charges will apply from October 2014, with the first bills due to be issued by “Irish Water” in January 2015. Irish Water will be contacting every household to request details including who is living in the household in order to claim the relevant free allowances. The occupier (tenant in case of a rented dwelling) will be asked to respond with the information.
Read more: Water ChargesRecognising Traveller Ethnicity
National Traveller MABS welcomes the recommendation by the Justice Oireachtas Committee for the Irish State to Recognise Traveller Ethnicity
Read more: Recognising Traveller EthnicityCredit Unions Electronic Payment Facility
Credit Unions are moving to provide members from every section of Irish society access to modern financial services at a fraction of the cost of the traditional banking system.
Read more: Credit Unions Electronic Payment FacilityWhat is Ethnic Monitoring?
There are over 188 different nationalities and many different ethnic groups living in Ireland. As such Ireland is a diverse and multi-ethnic society.
Read more: What is Ethnic Monitoring?Vincent Browne Launches "Overcoming Illegal Debt" a NTMABS Education Resource
On Tuesday October 8th 2013, Journalist and Broadcaster Vincent Browne launched a community education resource by National Traveller MABS entitled Overcoming Illegal Debt.
Read more: Vincent Browne Launches "Overcoming Illegal Debt" a NTMABS Education ResourceAlliance of Social Protection Recipients
The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton TD will address the inaugural meeting of the Alliance of Social Protection Recipients which will take place on this Friday the 19th of October 2013 at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis.
Read more: Alliance of Social Protection RecipientsVincentian Partnership for Social Justice
Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice (VPSJ) has updated it’s Minimum Essential Standard of Living expenditure figures for 2012.
Read more: Vincentian Partnership for Social JusticeNancy Power Receives National Education Achievement Award
The 2012 Exchange House National Educational Achievement Awards took place on November 2nd at the Wood Quay Venue in Dublin.
Read more: Nancy Power Receives National Education Achievement AwardTraveller Woman Embarks on Her Dream
On the 8th November 2012, Traveller woman Margaret McDonagh officially opened her new dress making business O'Brien's Fine Designs in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Read more: Traveller Woman Embarks on Her Dream