Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their attendance and for the work they are doing in economic planning.

On the issue of helping the economy, one of the problems I am coming across is the delay by banks in responding to the new challenges, especially in the housing market. I have seen cases where banks are not allowing people in receipt of full incomes to draw down loans because the employer of one the parties is receiving Covid support. In one case, for instance, a builder was to be paid €60,000 but the money could not be drawn down. The person had used their savings to pay for the site on which the house was being built. How can the Government work with the banks given that they are afraid to move where there is even a 1% level of risk? How can that be changed?