Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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155. To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he will take to ensure that businesses in County Meath can access credit from banks and other lending institutions; if he will provide figures on the amount of lending that has been given to small and medium enterprises in County Meath in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16634/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which small and medium-sized enterprises seeking credit from their respective lending institutions have been accommodated by their banks in each of the past three years to date; the extent to which unsuccessful applications have succeeded on appeal; if in the case of refusal any assessment has been undertaken of the main reasons for refusal such as poor credit rating which can be attributed to other factors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16802/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 168 together.

As part of the 2011 recapitalisation exercise, the Government imposed SME lending targets on AIB and Bank of Ireland for the three calendar years, 2011 to 2013. Each bank was required to sanction lending of at least €3 billion in 2011, €3.5 billion last year and €4 billion in 2013 for new or increased credit facilities, including working capital, to SMEs. Both banks have achieved their lending targets.

The credit review process remains available to any SME whose credit has been reduced or withdrawn by AIB or Bank of Ireland as well as when credit is refused by them. I would strongly advise any SME whose credit is reduced or withdrawn to avail of the services of the Credit Review Office.

Action Plan for Jobs 2014 contains a range of actions to encourage access to credit for SMEs and enhance the measurement and reporting by the banks of their lending to the sector. These include:

-           Work with KfW and the German Ministry of Finance to develop an initiative that will improve funding mechanisms for SMEs.

-           Detailed data from AIB and Bank of Ireland will be collated and examined on a monthly basis ensuring a more informed understanding of the SME bank lending environment with a particular focus on new lending.                                       

-           The SME State Bodies Group will be rolling out a comprehensive communications strategy to ensure that SMEs are aware of the State supports for which they may be eligible, which may include supports for working capital purposes.

In addition, the SME Funding Consultation Committee, chaired by the Department of Finance, provides a forum for consultation with stakeholders around Government policy regarding the provision of credit to SMEs.

As regards the unsuccessful applications that have succeeded on appeal, the Credit Reviewer's thirteenth report , published on 24 March, contained the table below which sets out the relevant information.