Credit Review Applications

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2010

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Questions (92)

John Deasy

Question:

98 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Finance the number of companies in Waterford city and county applying for credit review; the number of decisions by credit institutions that were reversed by these reviews; the amount of finance involved for companies in Waterford city and county applying for credit reviews; the number of jobs supported by companies in Waterford city and county applying for credit reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47544/10]

Written answers

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan)

The Credit Review Office does not collect details of the geographical distribution of requests to the banks for internal review. The banks provide information on the geographical distribution of SME lending and Mr Trethowan has reported that the geographic data show that there has been no appreciable movement in the percentage share of lending to the various geographic regions since the base month in January 2010.

The recently published second quarterly report from the Credit Review Office stated that the number of requests for review to the Credit Review Office received was 37. This small number means that divulging information on a county specific basis could reveal commercially sensitive information about specific businesses. I do not intend to do this particularly at a time when we are encouraging any businesses which are refused credit to make internal appeals within the bank and then to the Credit Review Office if necessary.