Rural and Community Development Committee to discuss credit unions’ support for small business

Scheduled witnesses include

• Credit Union Managers Association Chairman Tim Molan,
• Credit Union Development Association Chief Executive Kevin Johnson,
• Irish League of Credit Unions Chief Executive Ed Farrell, and
• Irish Rural Link Chief Executive Seamus Boland.

“Credit unions play a vital role in providing finance to community enterprises and farms, but many of these small employers say they often struggle to receive a line of credit on viable terms that would allow their business to grow,” said Committee Chairman Joe Carey TD. “The Committee is eager to identify how credit unions assess risk when dealing with small, often family-based enterprises and whether more latitude exists to increase support to these bedrock industries.

“The Committee also looks forward to hearing the views of Irish Rural Link, which advocated the establishment of the Department of Rural and Community Development,” Deputy Carey said. “Irish Rural Link’s strategy is to secure the existence of a substantial number of viable communities in rural Ireland, where every person will have meaningful work, adequate social services, and infrastructure needed for sustainable development.”

The meeting in Committee Room 4 can be viewed live here.