John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1362. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the report on the community banking; the reason for the delay in publishing the report; if the delay is being caused by a disagreement between his Department and the Department of Finance on the content of the report; if so, the points of disagreement; if the publication of the report will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15927/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to investigate a new model of community banking for Ireland, including an investigation of the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions.

A project team comprising officials from my Department and the Department of Finance was established last year to progress this commitment. The project team carried out detailed research into the concept of a public banking model, with a particular focus on the Sparkassen model. In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the concept of a community banking model, ran for four weeks. A total of 16 replies from a range of stakeholders was received.

Additionally, there has been substantial engagement and a number of meetings held with Irish Rural Link and the Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation (SBFIC) - the international development wing of the Sparkassen group - on its proposal for a suggested model of local public banking in Ireland, based on the Sparkassen system.

The officials from both Departments took the time to carefully analysis the proposal, as well as to assess all the submissions received during the consultation process in order to make sure that all the ideas and opinions were captured and reflected in their report. The Departmental officials have finalised their report and have submitted their findings to the Minister for Finance and myself.

Both Minister Donohoe and I are in agreement with the findings and conclusions of the report. I anticipate that the report will be brought to Government in the next few weeks with a view to its publication.