asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of credit available this year by the associated banks for (1) Government purposes and (2) private purposes; and the proportion of this that has already been taken.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Availability of Credit.
91.
It is not intended to specify the amount of credit available for lending this year by the Associated Banks. The Central Bank has recently replaced the system of direct control of credit by a system of regulation based on minimum ratios of liquid assets to deposit and current accounts. Under this system the ability of banks to extend credit is largely determined by their success in attracting resources.
Over the period April to end-June, 1973, the increases in lending by the Associated Banks to the Government and to non-Government borrowers amounted to £11 million and £30 million respectively.