Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise, regarding the programme for Government, the issue of the capacity and power of credit unions to issue micro loans to families on low and middle incomes who are otherwise unable to get credit. This scheme was launched last year by me and by the former Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Senator Kevin Humphreys. It has been an enormous success such that in the case of quite a number of credit unions and their loan limits, which are relatively small, the average loan value is €1,800 but many loans are for amounts up to €500. Both in my constituency and the Tánaiste's there are many large housing estates built by the local authorities where there are literally no banking facilities and where credit is sold door to door or by money lenders. This scheme has resulted in thousands of loans being issued in the 50 trial credit unions which have been using the scheme, assisted by An Post, with a household budgeting facility made available by An Post for repayments. If we could extend the scheme on a much wider basis and countrywide, we would see a significant drop in money lending, particularly in very disadvantaged areas and to people on very low incomes.

In the context of the programme for Government, I merely wanted to ask if the Government would prioritise the rapid expansion of this scheme.

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