Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
300. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance if he will engage with a bank (details supplied) on behalf of residents and businesses in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo with the aim of securing the ongoing use of the premises of the closed bank as a community resource and in order to maintain an ATM in the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53125/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Finance, I have no role in the commercial decisions made by any bank in the State. This includes banks in which the State has a shareholding.
Decisions in this regard, including the management of branch or ATM networks, are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. The independence of banks in which the State has a shareholding is protected by Relationship Frameworks which are legally binding documents that cannot be changed unilaterally. These frameworks, which are publicly available, were insisted upon by the European Commission to protect competition in the Irish market. The Bank of Ireland Relationship Framework can be found on my department's website.
Accordingly, the use of the bank branch you refer to is a matter for Bank of Ireland.
On ATMs specifically, Bank of Ireland has confirmed that no location will be left without access to financial services or cash facilities. Many locations will see an enhancement of services through the bank’s new partnership with An Post. However, in the small number of locations (four) where there is no alternative ATM available, Bank of Ireland will continue to maintain an ATM.
