Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have been communicating with Mr. Hughes for some time regarding certain sectors excluded from the CRSS and SBASC because they do not have rateable premises. I was specifically referring to people in the fairground, amusement, leisure, circus and catering areas. Mr. Hughes said that other ways of trying to provide support to these sectors were being explored. Have there been developments concerning that?

My second point concerns previous comments made by him regarding examining involvement of the credit union network in some of the microfinance elements. Has the Department been considering activities that might promote more of a public banking role for the credit union network, given the exit of Ulster Bank and now KCB? Is the Department giving any views to the Department of Finance regarding such a role or any support on how we might consider implementing a wider banking role for the credit union sector?