Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The point Deputy Burton makes regarding the availability of credit to families is a critical one. I reiterate the strong support for the scheme that the Deputy initiated under the Department of Social Protection. That now will need to be evaluated with a view to extension.

There is a strong commitment in the programme for Government to credit unions. The Minister for Finance met representatives of the credit union movement in recent weeks and I can assure Deputy Burton that the type of scheme she outlined has the support of Government. I will ask the Minister for Finance to liaison with the Deputy on the extension and development of such a scheme.

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