Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Finance the progress made to date by banks (details supplied) in lending the €3 billion each per annum by industry sector and by geographical region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39161/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department and Mr. Trethowan of the Credit Review Office receive monthly progress reports from the two banks which allow us to monitor their lending to viable businesses in all sectors of the economy and in every area of the country. This information is commercially sensitive. The banks have 12 months to reach their targets and the overall results of their activities will be published in due course. In addition to the monitoring, the Credit Review Office reviews decisions of banks to refuse credit on application from the customer to ensure that the banks are not refusing to lend to viable businesses.

Mr. Trethowan's first quarterly report was of course published and I intend publishing his next report when it is received.

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of loan or credit refusals investigated by the Credit Review Office to date, the result of these reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39162/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In his appearance before the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation on 21 September, Mr Trethowan informed the Committee that "Approximately 20 applications have been sent to the office for review, of which we have dealt with about ten, of which five have been upheld." These figures have not significantly changed since then. The quarterly report of the CRO will be published in due course.

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Finance if he will formally instruct the banks to inform their customers when initially applying for a loan or credit facility that the Credit Review Office exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39163/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The banks covered by the Credit Review Office (CRO) inform customers who have a loan application turned down, rather than everyone who applies, about the availability of the CRO to review their application. As such, I do not at present see a need to inform all customers on a formal basis about the presence of the CRO. Anyone to whom it applies to is already being informed and there is also considerable literature placed in the public areas in these institutions which outlines the role of the CRO and steps required to avail of the services of the office.The banks covered by the Credit Review Office (CRO) inform customers who have a loan application turned down, rather than everyone who applies, about the availability of the CRO to review their application. As such, I do not at present see a need to inform all customers on a formal basis about the presence of the CRO. Anyone to whom it applies to is already being informed and there is also considerable literature placed in the public areas in these institutions which outlines the role of the CRO and steps required to avail of the services of the office.