Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I encourage Mr. Farrell to do that because if there are only two credit unions operating the scheme in a county the size of Mayo, it is impossible for some people to access it. Many of these people do not have transport to access a credit union. Obviously unions also have to operate within their own localities. More than 300,000 people are currently borrowing from reckless moneylenders and that needs to change. There are two bodies that can address that, leaving aside legislation in the area such as Deputy Pearse Doherty's proposed legislation to cap interest rates in moneylending. The credit union, as the most trusted organisation involved, can bring people into that space, working with the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, which does a wonderful job. The most successful cases with which I deal are the cases that involve the combination of advice from MABS and supports from the credit unions. People can get out of the financial traps they are in and away from the exploitation of moneylenders using that approach. It is hugely important.