Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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29. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress made to date on protecting employment of staff working on the UK loan book at Bank of America, Carrick-on-Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24300/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The process regarding the sale of Bank of America’s (BOA’s) UK credit card businesses remains ongoing. The former MBNA Credit Card Processing facility in Carrick-on-Shannon now comprises of two operations. The first business, following the purchase by global management company Apollo of the part of BOA’s Credit Card portfolio which services the Irish Card customers, is a new operation called AvantCard, which employs approximately 250 staff, who transferred from BOA to AvantCard (Apollo) under TUPE regulations on March 13 2013. The second operation, servicing the UK card holders, remains in the ownership of BOA and employs approximately 250 people.

Apollo acquired the entire building in Carrick and leased back office space to BOA. BOA continues to look for a buyer for the remainder of the Credit Card book but none have materialised to date. IDA remains in contact both locally and at headquarters level with both BOA and Apollo/AvantCard, to monitor progress and provide assistance, as appropriate, with respect to reconfiguring the Carrick facility. My Department and IDA Ireland will continue to keep in close touch with the issue and will provide whatever assistance they can to seek to ensure a satisfactory outcome.