Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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187. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will have discussions with the banks to examine the possibility of a small loans policy which would include the option of having repayments taken from source on social protection payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14924/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Issues relating to Social Protection payments are matters for my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection. 

I understand that An Post's Household Budget service allows recipients of certain social welfare payments to pay regular amounts towards various household bills by direct deduction from certain Social Welfare payments, up to a maximum of 25% of the weekly flat rate payment. Currently, bills to a local authority, a housing body, Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, eircom or Airtricity can be paid in this way. Similar budgeting scheme could be set up using standard SEPA payment accounts with a bank account.

My Department is currently considering the wider issue of the availability of micro-credit to low-income families. Any solution must be cognisant of the households ability to pay.