Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2011
99 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the value of outstanding loans lent by Irish-based legal moneylenders as notified to the Financial Regulator in 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21730/11]
View answerI have been advised by the Central Bank that the information requested by the Deputy is not available. There is no legal requirement on licensed moneylenders to prepare or to submit audited accounts to the Central Bank. The end of the year accounting period for financial accounting purposes varies from moneylender to moneylender.
100 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the number of Irish-based moneylenders registered with the Financial Regulator in 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21731/11]
View answerI have been advised by the Central Bank that the number of licensed moneylenders registered in each of the years was as follows:
|
Year |
Number of Licensed Moneylenders |
|
2008 |
53 |
|
2009 |
52 |
|
2010 |
46 |
|
2011 |
46 (as at 30 June 2011) |
101 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the levies paid by moneylenders to the Financial Regulator in 2008, 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21732/11]
View answerI have been advised by the Central Bank that the amount of levies paid to the Bank by moneylenders in the years 2008 to 2010 inclusive is as follows:
|
Year |
Levy amount collected |
|
2008 |
€162,000 |
|
2009 |
€244,000 |
|
2010 |
€257,000 |
The information for 2011 is not yet available.
102 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the number of illegal moneylending operations the Financial Regulator, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, has investigated and has brought charges against in the years 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21733/11]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that persons operating as illegal moneylenders are in breach of the law. It is a matter for An Garda Síochána to investigate their activities. Under Section 98 of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 (as amended), An Garda Síochána have sole responsibility for the investigation and prosecution of such offences. The Central Bank has no powers in this regard. If the Bank has reason to believe that a person is operating as an illegal moneylender, the matter is reported to An Garda Síochána. I will check with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, on whether or not data are available in this regard and have the information sent to the Deputy.
