Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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229. To ask the Minister for Finance following the recent publication of mortgage approval data by the Irish Banking Federation which showed that there were 1,587 approvals in January 2014, and following the publication on 3 March 2014 by the Bank of England in the UK of its monthly money and credit report which showed that there were 76,947 approvals in the UK in the same month, his views on whether the Irish banking system, over which he operates significant direct control via his stakes in the banks and his Department’s banking unit, is failing to provide a mortgage loans service to meet the needs of citizens in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13413/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, lending institutions in Ireland, including those in which the State has a significant shareholding, are independent commercial entities and I do not interfere in the specific decisions of banks regarding their lending decisions.

Mortgage lending decisions must be undertaken on a sustainable and prudential basis by financial institutions and conform fully with the regulatory requirements, both in relation to the financial institution itself, and also with regard to the safeguarding of the borrower's interests.

I have been informed by the Irish Banking Federation that the figure of 1,587 approvals represents an increase of 10.8% compared to the same time period last year.  However, it should be noted that even though the new mortgage lending market continues to improve, this improvement is coming off a low base.  Government policy in this area is to promote competition in banking as this provides choice to the consumer and business while reducing concentration of risk.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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230. To ask the Minister for Finance the total number of new mortgages advanced by KBC, Ulster Bank and Investec in 2013; if he will provide an overall anonymised total of volume and value of new mortgages issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13414/14]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy himself has highlighted the need to protect the privacy of individual lenders.

I too would be concerned that providing anonymised information in relation to a subset of lenders could be commercially sensitive because of how the information could be manipulated.

However, I can advise the Deputy that the most recent IBF figures show that the total number of mortgage loans issued in the Irish market in 2013 was 14,985.