Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have a couple of questions and then I will invite Ms Dooley to speak. I compliment the three credit union organisations. My family has had a long association with credit unions. As members know, I am from Waterford. My dad is no longer with us but he was one of the founding members and chairman of the Portlaw Ballyduff credit union. Recently, we have seen a lot of amalgamations. For example, Portlaw Ballyduff amalgamated with St. Dominic's in Waterford and the amalgamation has been very successful. The transition has been extremely good. There were worries that there would be a negative impact on the smaller credit union but that has not been the case. In fact, there have been benefits especially in terms of being able to use an ATM card. I congratulate the credit union movement on surviving through very difficult times.

The credit union movement came before the Committee on Housing and Homelessness which sat in 2016. I was a member of the committee. The Government was not even formed then. We have huge issues in relation to housing and homelessness. At the time the credit union movement offered approximately €13 billion on deposit at the time and it was open to putting approximately €2 billion or €3 billion forward for the development of housing. The witnesses can correct me if my figures are wrong. I know nothing has happened but is there any update on the position?

I compliment Irish Rural Link on all the work it has done with the Sparkassen bank because there is no doubt it has been to the fore in regard to it. It is ploughing the way forward for the bank. Everything we have heard today is very complimentary about the bank and what the members are trying to achieve. Mr. Kinahan, whom I met last week, is present with Ms Dooley. There is significant development in the greater Dublin area and there is an appetite in the regions for credit unions, banking and funding for small and medium enterprises. It would be very welcome if we could make progress on both fronts. I am not sure whether it was Mr. Farrell who came before the housing committee.