Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome movement on this matter. If the legislation is passed, how will it change the operation of the individual credit unions? Will it unleash them or give them the chance to be more responsive than they can be currently? As the Minister of State noted earlier, banks are withdrawing their physical services from communities, leaving many people who depend on branch banking exposed. The credit unions are perfectly placed to step in and provide physical banking services. Will there be provision in the legislation to assist them in doing that, particularly in communities where there might be a need for support to assist them in maintaining a physical presence, including through the provision of financial support similar to that being offered to post offices, in order that we have a certain viable level of physical financial transaction services in communities around the country?

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