Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the weekend, Councillor Bobby O'Connell and I met with Michael J. Kearney of the Castleisland Chamber Alliance to view the now closed Bank of Ireland building on the main street in the town. This branch was one of 88 Bank of Ireland branches that were closed recently. I also met in recent weeks with Shane McElroy of the Killorglin Chamber Alliance, that town having also lost its Bank of Ireland branch on Market Street. It is a huge blow to both towns. Both branches served huge hinterlands beyond Castleisland and Killorglin in the mid-Kerry area. Both chambers now have ambitious plans for those buildings. Will the Government engage with Bank of Ireland to ensure a co-operative and community-focused approach by the bank, working with community organisations that have plans to re-use the buildings as community hubs, office spaces, visitor information centres or exhibition spaces?

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