Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his attendance and his response. I join with the Minister in acknowledging the efforts of other Deputies in the House, particularly my constituency colleague, Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy who has been to the forefront in seeking to address this issue in a manner favourable to the community. The Minister said that 14 branches are due to close, bringing the total number of closures to 26 or 27 since this process began. However, Ferbane is one of only two towns - Croom in Limerick being the other - which will have no other financial institution or bank remaining after the Ulster Bank closure. I am merely pointing out the commitment made by the parent company, RBS, that it would not leave any town without any banking facilities. I acknowledge that Ulster Bank is in negotiations with An Post with a view to providing banking facilities in those areas where its branches will close. However, I am also conscious that An Post in another location in Offaly is finding it very difficult to find a new provider to work on its behalf or to enter into a contract with it to provide financial services. One of the issues that has arisen is the size, scale and security requirements of any building, which must meet the guidelines as laid down by An Post. With the best will in the world, the facility that is currently available in Ferbane may not be meet the criteria. I am conscious that Ulster Bank has been in the same location in Ferbane for a very long time - up to a century I believe. The building is the bank's own and is a fine premises, located in the heart of the community. That building may be of some use to the community if the worst happens and the branch is not retained.

The implementation of this process has not met with approval in the community in so far as it has not been given time to explore other options and ensure they are in place when the fateful day arrives and the bank closes its door. People in the locality have shown resilience, dedication and commitment. Having met other impediments in recent times, including the reconfiguration of Bord na Móna and closure of workshops in that realm, the community has emerged stronger and now has a development association that is second to none. Furthermore, local people, through their own fund-raising efforts, have established an industrial park and facilities for business start-ups. This initiative shows their dedication and commitment to their community and its hinterland. They have been assisted by the West Offaly Partnership and funding provided by Bord na Móna and the ESB.

Local people are not immune to change or challenges. They simply want fair play and a level playing pitch. They seek a meeting with the person with responsibility for overseeing Ulster Bank at his convenience and in his preferred location. They want to be sure in their own minds that their community has had a fair crack of the whip and wish to place on the table their sentiments, feelings, commitment, dedication, history and association with Ulster Bank. It is against that background and having made the same request to the Taoiseach previously that I ask the Minister to use his influence to impress upon the chief executive officer of Ulster Bank the need to meet representatives of the community and public representatives to allow such a discussion to take place. We will deal with the consequences thereafter. This is the only role the Government will play and the only offer of assistance it can provide given that Ulster Bank is a commercial entity in its own right, one which has not had the benefit of capital input by this Government or the previous Government. In recognising that, I also reiterate my earlier comment on the position facing Ferbane and similar towns in rural areas. The Government must be seen to be more proactive in seeking to assist such communities in re-emerging from the recent crisis in a better way. To this end, I ask the Minister to consider in earnest the document that was produced.

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