Ask For Help

We’re all guilty to some degree of procrastinating – putting off dealing with a problem, ‘kicking the can down the road’. But in the long run, this does no good. Its better to face the issue, accept it and look for support. More often than not, there is support out there. Sometimes the first option for support doesn’t work for us but if we persist, we will find the help that we need.

There are a number of independent organisations that can assist with Money Matters and Welfare Rights. These include:

·        Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)

·        Citizens Information

·        Congress Resource Centre

·        Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU)

·        Society of Saint Vincent De Paul

• National Advocacy Service

MABS

This organization assists people struggling with debt. MABS offers impartial advice to help people to manage their money and resolve their debt situation. It offers support through three channels:

• Online (https://mabs.ie/)

• Over the phone (0818 07 2000 - Monday to Friday 9am-8pm)

• Face to Face

There are three MABS offices in County Donegal:

Donegal MABS (North), Letterkenny

First Floor, Forte Lynne House, Letterkenny F92 R6NF

Telephone  0818 07 2460

Email  letterkenny@mabs.ie

Donegal MABS (South), Donegal town

Donegal Public Services Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal, F94 DK6C

Telephone 0818 07 2480

Email southdonegal@mabs.ie

Donegal MABS (West) / Iarthar Dun na nGall, Derrybeg

Derrybeg, F92 KF82

Telephone  0818 07 2650

Email  iarthar_dhun_na_ngall@mabs.ie

The website is a great resource with the following important sections in it:

·        Tackling debt

·        Mortgage arrears

·        Managing Money

·        Financial Health Check

·        Budgeting

·        Personal Financial Overview

·        Cost Of Living Supports

There is a news section as well and signposting to ‘Abhaile’, for mortgage arrears support.

The website also has its 0818 07 2000 telephone line to access its Debt Advisors.

The site has a range of tools such as ‘My Financial Picture’ which helps you to identify your incomings and outgoings so that you can create a realistic and sustainable budget. This tool, if used, can help you to demonstrate to creditors that you are managing your money and making the maximum possible sustainable payment to them.

Citizens Information

There is a network of Citizen Information Centres throughout County Donegal. You can drop into your local centre or contact it by phone and email for information, advice and advocacy. Make sure you check your local service's opening hours if you are dropping in. Appointments are offered as needed following an initial assessment.

The contact details of the various offices are:

Carndonagh

Public Services Centre, Malin Road, Carndonagh
Phone: 0818 07 5500

Donegal Town

Donegal Town Citizens Information Centre, Public Services Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town
Phone: 0818 07 5510

Dungloe

Dungloe Citizens Information Centre, Public Services Centre, Gweedore Road, Dungloe
Phone: 0818 07 5430

Letterkenny

Letterkenny Citizens Information Centre, Public Services Centre, Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny
Phone: 0818 07 5530

Milford

Milford Citizens Information Centre, Public Services Centre, Milford
Phone: 0818 07 5450

You can also call the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000, Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm.

·        Health

·        Social Welfare

·        Employment

·        Money and Tax

·        Moving Country

·        Returning to Ireland

·        Housing

·        Education and Training

·        Travel and Recreation

·        Environment

·        Consumer

·        Government in Ireland

·        Death and Bereavement

·        Family and Relationships

·        Justice

Congress Resource Centre

This is part of the Congress Network established in 1980, to provide support resources and a wider range of services to the unemployed. The local office in Letterkenny is located at Pearse Road, Letterkenny. The contact details are 074 912 8010 and info@crclk.ie.

Services offered include:

·        Free and confidential information on rights and entitlements

·        Campaigning for the rights of workers and jobseekers

·        Information on and entitlement to British Pensions

·        Help with job seeking

·        Jobs Notice Board

·        Accommodation List

Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed (INOU)

The INOU works with:

·        unemployed people

·        organisations supporting unemployed people

·        national organisations that work on a range of equality, social inclusion and anti poverty issues

·        employers

·        policy makers and government departments

·        the media

In regards to Welfare Rights, it offers Welfare to Work information and advocacy supports. The organisation has a great website  (www.inou.ie) and has a helpline (Telephone 01 8560088). My experience of the Helpline is extremely positive. When you ring the Helpline, you will be asked to leave a short message with your contact details so that they can return your call with appropriate information, advice and guidance.

Society of Saint Vincent De Paul

This organisation aims to deal with poverty by alleviating the effects on individuals and families. It provides:

·        direct assistance to those in need

·        care for the homeless

·        social housing

·        social support activities

·        emergency accommodation for unplanned homelessness

It tries to promote self sufficiency

There is a Saint Vincent de Paul in Letterkenny. The contact details are:

Telephone 074 9128998/9129503/9122366

Email vincentslk1@gmail.com

Other Saint Vincent de Paul branches in the Donegal area can be contacted on:

Raphoe  074 9173933

Dunfanaghy  074 9100888

Glenties  074 9551766

Castlefinn  074 9146726

Milford  074 9152421

Rathmullan  074 9158226

Ballyshannon  074 985142

Fanad  074 9159050

Quigleys Point  074 9383011

Clonmany 074 9376839