Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this issue. It was with great shock and disappointment that I learned this week of the decision of Ulster Bank to close nine branches across the country, including two in my constituency of Dublin South-Central. The branches in Inchicore and Kimmage are scheduled to close by the end of November. However, I take the opportunity to take the staff in the Inchicore and Kimmage branches for their courtesy and the professionalism shown to the customers over the past number of years. I bank in the branch in Inchicore. I am glad the staff will not lose their jobs but the move will have dire consequences for our local community as we will be left with no local bank facility after Ulster Bank pulls out.

More than 4,000 households live in Inchicore and it was once home to three main banks - Bank of Ireland, AIB and Permanent TSB - and a number of buildings societies but all of them have closed their doors. The closure of the Ulster Bank branch will be very inconvenient for local people who will have to travel into town to access over-the-counter banking services. It will also mean the loss an ATM service for the village, which will be a major inconvenience.

I understand the bank is moving more of its services online to cut costs but it must recognise online banking does not work for many people for a variety of reasons. Elderly customers, in particular, will be targeted. They are being punished due to their inability to access the nearest branches. There is no direct bus service to the nearest Ulster Bank branch in Palmerstown. For many years, the bank relied on the custom of local people but now those very people are being penalised for their loyalty. They are angry and frustrated at the closure of their local banks.

I share the concerns expressed by local business people that the closure will result in the loss of business locally in Inchicore and Kimmage, with fewer people coming into the villages to do business. The village of Inchicore can ill-afford another empty shop unit as currently there are seven.

People feel especially hard done by when they see how banking institutions have been supported by the State and are now returning to profitability. They feel that they should also be supported but instead they feel abandoned. This is not the first announcement of branches closing and, sadly, it may not be the last. It is the end of retail banking as communities know it. We need to maintain a decent level of service for customers, young and old, and, therefore, I urge the Minister to engage with the banking sector to keep branches - at least one branch - open in our towns and villages where people can get a proper banking service.

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