Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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81. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications received for a banking licence in each of the past five years; the results of each application; and in each case if the person was Irish or foreign based. [29470/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Central Bank that the number of applications for a banking licence which it received in the past five years is as follows:

2015 (YTD) None

2014 None

2013 Dell Bank International Limitedlicence granted [US]

2012 None

2011 None

2010 None

In addition to the above, EBS Limited was granted a banking licence in 2011 on the conversion of EBS from a building society to a bank.

It should be noted that the Central Bank operates an internal two-step process to bank licensing.  Step 1 is whereby the potential applicant submits a proposal for authorisation.  This is then reviewed by the Central Bank and if it is considered that the proposal meets the criteria for the granting of a banking licence then, under Step 2, an application is submitted.  If the proposal does not meet the criteria then it is returned to the potential applicant.  I am informed by the Central Bank that the data provided in this response refers only to applications received at Step 2.