asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give a list of the places where loan societies now operate under his Department; if the results are such as to warrant a continuance of this activity; and, if not, and if it is considered advisable to close down these societies, he will hand back their accumulated funds for the benefit of the localities where these funds were originally subscribed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Loan Societies.
As the reply includes a long list of societies I think it better to circulate the answer in the Official Reports.
The following is the answer:—
LIST OF PLACES WHERE LOAN FUND SOCIETIES OPERATE.
|
County: |
Place: |
|
Cavan |
Arva |
|
Ballyjamesduff |
|
|
Cork |
Kinsale |
|
Mallow |
|
|
Newmarket |
|
|
Donegal |
Letterkenny |
|
Moville |
|
|
Galway |
Galway City |
|
Kilkenny |
Callan |
|
Laoighis |
*Abbeyleix |
|
Mountmellick |
|
|
Leitrim |
Drumshambo |
|
Leitrim |
|
|
Limerick |
Limerick City (2) |
|
Longford |
Drumlish |
|
Meath |
Kells |
|
Offaly |
Tullamore |
|
Roscommon |
Athlone |
|
Tipperary |
Cashel |
|
Fethard |
|
|
Roscrea |
|
|
Tipperary |
|
|
Westmeath |
Athlone |
|
Wicklow |
*Moyne |
* In course of dissolution.
While some societies are well managed and benefit a fairly large number of reliable and deserving borrowers, there are other societies whose usefulness is very limited. Two are in process of voluntary liquidation. The question of the future of the societies and the disposal of their funds, if the system should be terminated, is under consideration in my Department. Meantime, any society which has an appreciable number of borrowers and is paying its way is, in my view, serving a useful purpose and should not for the present be dissolved.