Fine Gael TD for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan has raised the proposed closure of six Co. Limerick branches of Allied Irish Banks in the Dáil. Patrick O’Donovan said that the communities of Croom, Doon, Dromcollogher, Glin, Foynes and Hospital were shocked by the manner in which the announcement was made and said that the announcement was made to communities that were loyal to the bank in a press statement that centred on the issue of a rate increase for borrowers of the bank. He was speaking during a Topical Issue debate which he had proposed in the Dáil.
Patrick O’Donovan acknowledged that the Minister for Finance was prevented from getting involved in the issue; however he said the matter needed to be addressed in the Dáil to make the Department of Finance aware of the dissatisfaction of the predominantly rural communities that are affected. In his speech to the Dáil Patrick O’Donovan also drew attention to the fact that little or no consultation had taken place in advance of the announcement at local level, there was still uncertainty in relation to the role of An Post and he added that the staff in the AIB branches included in the announcement needed to be remembered.
Replying to Patrick O’Donovan, Minister Brian Hayes TD said “If the Department is to indicate anything to the bank in public, it would be that the stakeholders must be understood in the configuration of a new service.”
After the debate Patrick O’Donovan said he agreed with the point that was made by Minister Hayes given the concerns that had been raised in each of the six communities. Night safe facilities, cash transit, commercial lodgements and the need for banking services for businesses were just some of the points that had been raised with him after the announcement of the closure.
Deputy O’Donovan welcomed Minister Hayes comments in the Dáil where he agreed with Patrick O’Donovan that the “bank has a responsibility to those communities….” Patrick O’Donovan is due to meet representatives of AIB again this week to discuss the proposed closures.