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Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

Ceisteanna (324)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

324. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to an issue with the It Makes Sense personal micro-credit loan scheme which is being run in conjunction with his Department (details supplied); the status of the nationwide roll-out of the scheme; if he will provide an updated list of participating credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30516/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A Personal Micro Credit Scheme providing for small scale loans by Credit Unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit has been piloted in 30 credit unions. The loans under the scheme range from €100 to a maximum of €2,000, and have a maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Over 1,200 loans have been drawn down under the Scheme during the pilot with an overall value of over €720,000. The average individual loan value drawn down was €500. The focus of the pilot scheme was social welfare recipients who availed of the loans from their Credit Union and were facilitated, with their consent, in the repayment of such loans through the Household Budgeting facility, operated by An Post. The deductions from their weekly social welfare payments were then transmitted on to the relevant Credit Union.

The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for the roll-out and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme. Following an evaluation of the pilot, the Implementation Group, which is chaired by my Department and comprises all relevant stakeholders, is working towards this aim. Incremental progress is being made towards extending the geographical coverage of the loan scheme through efforts to recruit Credit Unions to participate in the scheme. To help advance this aim, I have written to all Credit Union Chairpersons and Managers, to encourage participation. A small number of credit unions previously involved in the pilot scheme, including the credit union concerned, have not progressed to national roll-out for a variety of reasons. Ultimately, participation in the scheme is a matter for each individual Credit Union to consider and decide upon.

The list of credit unions offering the scheme is updated regularly and is available at the attached link www.itmakessenseloan.ie/participating-credit-unions and on the It Makes Sense Facebook page.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 325 withdrawn.
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