Huge jump in clients at MABS in Longford

More people in financial difficulty are now contacting MABS in Longford for help with new clients increasing by almost 20% during the first quarter of this year, it has emerged.

And, worryingly, the 19% jump in the county Longford service is 'bucking the trend' compared to other areas in the Midlands.

Padraig Brennan, the Service Delivery Manager for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) told the Longford Leader over 85 new clients contacted the service in the three months period up until the end of March (in the same period in 2024 they were contacted by 69 new clients).

Mr Brennan has appealed to anyone who is experiencing financial difficulty and stress to contact them and insisted talking things through and receiving practical advice and support can be vitally important.

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"We cover the north Leinster area and Longford would be busier than other regions.

"Generally people are contacting MABS and mortgages would usually be the highest across the range but rent arrears is much more prominent in Longford than in Westmeath.

"The next biggest financial difficulty would be utility bills that we would see the most," he added.

Mr Brennan also oversees the MABS offices in Athlone and Mullingar where clients have remained steady but similar to 2024.

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"I am working through three offices and in the other two it is not as busy as Longford and then when I am sitting in during our regional meetings it's bucking the trend of the other offices," he added.

MABS is free, confidential and independent, and they have over 20 years of experience helping people with all kinds of problem debt.

Mr Brennan, an office administrator and two full-time money advisors are based in the Longford office and they work with clients and offer them advice and support.

MABS help to tackle a wide range of personal debts including mortgage arrears , personal loans, utilities arrears, credit card debt , hire purchases, rent arrears, court fines and legal moneylenders.

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Mr Brennan believes higher proportion of renters in Longford is leading to additional pressure.

"These figures are only going one way and that is up and up and I suppose the thing about mortgages they have now steadied and are going in the opposite direction."

Mr Brennan believes people are experiencing more difficulty across the board and the high cost of living now is squeezing everyone and it can be seen 'everywhere'.

"Everybody needs a property and everyone needs electricity.

"When people look at inflation figures it might be a 4% or 5% increase but that can be vital for lower income families.

"Inflation figures are much higher for food, rent and energy and we would class the four priorities of life as: you need shelter, which is your rent or mortgage, you need your light and your heat, you need food and you need clothing on your back.

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"So they are the ones that need to come first and they are the ones that are increasing exorbitantly.

"If there is an increase in electricity or an increase in rent it is going to adversely affect them compared to someone who is on a higher income," he added.

Mr Brennan said they look at each client's situation as a whole, seeking to find the best solution for that client.

"It's the bigger bills that fail first, it will be one of two things, it will be a utility bill goes down or it will be rent/mortgage."

Mr Brennan said he has no significant concerns about the increase in Longford but he is very concerned about people who are struggling financially and suffer in silence.

He said some are reluctant to seek the vital support they need.
Mr Brennan said they have discussed why there has been a jump in Longford clients but they are unsure at the moment.

"Everywhere else quietened down with the support that came through in the Budget with the energy grants and [social welfare] double payments, we are assuming that made it a quiet start to the year.

"But Longford has been different with a 19% increase in quarter one."