Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is aware of the talk in his county, Limerick, of mergers between credit unions and post offices offering a different range of financial services. The question is what consideration the Department has given to the merger and what the Department can do to help roll out the idea. Many of the mainstream banks have closed some of their branches. With the mainstream banks having closed branches, the question concerns rural communities that are left with no banking service. Within the communities, a number of credit unions are looking to work with An Post to offer a different range of services. Quite a number of regulations apply. I am interested in the Minister's opinion and the opinion of the Department on future progress of the mergers.

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