Members of the Traveller community who find themselves struggling with debts have been urged to make use of the State's free money-advice service.
Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan today published a guide to the National Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting (MABS) service, with maps showing where each office is located.
The service is free, independent and confidential.
Mr Brennan said the mapping exercise is designed to promote and increase the use of the service by the Traveller community and to assist MABS offices in actively targeting Travellers in their area.
"Over recent years the nationwide MABS service has assisted thousands of people to face up to debt problems, regain control of their finances and, in time of need, to gain access to affordable credit," he said.
"While there has been a welcome increase in the use of MABS by the Traveller community, I feel the MABS should be reaching more Travellers and assisting and supporting them through financial difficulties and in developing stronger links for them with the financial service providers linked to MABS.
"I would urge MABS, on the one hand, to work towards reaching more Travellers with their valuable advice and assistance and Travellers, on the other hand, to make more use of the genuine and constructive MABS service to help them chart their way out of debt and through financial difficulties."
National Traveller MABS was established in January last year to support MABS services nationally on issues relating to the Traveller community.