Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Comghairdas leis an Aire Stáit. I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, on his appointment. I know how much it means to him and I have no doubt he will be highly capable in his new post and I wish him well. I hope that the Government will last a few years and that he will have an opportunity to shine in his role.

The withdrawal of a number of services from small rural bank branches across the country is causing widespread anger, concern and frustration among business people and the elderly. This is a serious problem in the Roscommon-Galway constituency I represent. Bank of Ireland has proposed to withdraw counter staff and cash facilities from a number of rural branches as part of a move to introduce and an advice and self-service type model. Yesterday, my constituency colleagues and I met officials from Bank of Ireland in Leinster House. Unfortunately, the bank is not for turning on this issue. We must shout "Stop" and fight back against this retrograde step.

Small rural bank branches are under threat. The problems in my constituency are in Dunmore and Ballygar, County Galway, and Elphin and Strokestown, County Roscommon. The removal of counter staff and cash facilities would place another major obstacle in the way of businesses which are already struggling to survive and operate in rural areas. I am sure the Minister of State will be aware of such businesses in his constituency. It is important that bank services continue.

I have major security concerns about the banks' proposal that cash services be made available through a courier. Every time a business service is withdrawn, it undermines the ability of small businesses to survive. Many rural businesses are already crippled with rising commercial rates and appalling broadband connectivity. It beggars belief that the banking sector now proposes to place another obstacle in their way.

We should be encouraging and supporting small businesses in rural Ireland, not making them continually jump through hoops. Take for example Dunmore, County Galway, where business people are rightly up in arms. They are fearful that the removal of cashier services will impact on the elderly, resulting in people taking their business out of the region. That is what will happen. For many rural towns like Dunmore, Elphin, Strokestown and Ballygar, the bank was a major focal point and brought a great deal of spin-off business to their regions.

The withdrawal of a number of services in rural branches severely impacts on the elderly, many of whom may not be computer literate or have an online presence. There is a major push by the banking sector to reduce staff numbers as part of a cost-cutting exercise and replace them with technology. There is a major emphasis on trying to move customers towards an online presence with limited or no human interaction at branch level. This will not work for everyone. Rural counties like Roscommon and Galway have a significantly higher percentage of older people, who will be alienated by this latest move to withdraw services from rural bank branches. What are we going to have next? Will there be drive-thru banks? If high-tech banks with video tellers became the only option, they would not work in Roscommon because we do not have broadband connectivity.

The Minister of State is well aware of the situation. I admit that banks are there to make a profit, but we must address this issue. I await the Minister of State's reply with interest.

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