Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform

Access to Credit Provision: Discussion with Credit Review Office

2:45 pm

Mr. John Trethowan:

Less than a handful. The Deputy asked why people do not come to the review office. I believe there are two reasons. The Deputy who raised this point has left but part of the reason is the weariness of the process, whereby people have to engage again and go through the process again. It is worthwhile, however, because as Deputy Harris noted, people who endorsed the service have said they are glad they came. The second reason relates to the fact there are only three banks and people are terrified of not having a bank. Between the decreasing numbers and the contraction of the physical presence of some banks a person could very quickly feel isolated if there was a perception that he or she was going to fall out with the bank.