John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the take up of the scheme outside Dublin is comparatively low and this is being looked at. It is consistently asked why the figure of €17 million is so low compared to the credit guarantee scheme-sanctioned figure of €61 million. I do not know if a breakdown of the approval of loans and distribution by county and the reason why many people outside Dublin do not take up the scheme has been given to the Deputy but if not, it should have been. While guarantee-backed loans approved under the scheme are easily quantifiable, for some reason, some SMEs, and there seems to be higher proportion outside Dublin, make the commercial decision not to take up the scheme. I do not know the reason for this. It should also be noted that negotiations between the Department and the Department of Finance are ongoing and there is a recognition that there is some fault in the scheme. There is no question about that. The objective of the scheme was that there would be parity across the country in respect of take up . I am told that in a number of months, an initiative should be put in place. It will take a bit of time. The scheme will probably be brought to the Dáil and Members will be able to put further questions regarding the current scheme if they feel there are deficiencies in it and how the next scheme could be put in place.

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