Paul Donnelly
Ceist:196. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his views on the difficulty of community, volunteer and sports organisations accessing bank accounts. [72889/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 18 December 2025
Ceisteanna (196)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, neither I as Tánaiste and Minister for Finance nor the Central Bank of Ireland can intervene directly in the commercial decision of a Credit Institution to open or refuse to open an account for a community, volunteer, or sports organisation.
The Financial Services and Pension Ombudsman (FSPO) Ombudsman provides independent, fair, impartial, confidential and free services to resolve complaints from consumers, including small businesses and other organisations which you have raised. The FSPO was established in January 2018 by the Financial Services and Pension Ombudsman Act 2017, and the Ombudsman is independent in the performance of his or her functions.
For the purpose of FSPO, charities and clubs are considered to be consumers if they are a subject to a turnover limit of €3 million in the preceding financial year. Hence if a qualifying charity or club is unhappy with the decision of a Credit Institution not to open an account for them, they can submit a complaint to the FSPO.
The FSPO will look at the merits of an individual case, examine the conduct of the Credit Institution in question and consider whether they followed procedures in terms of established account opening protocols.
As outlined in the 2025 programme for Government, the Government is committed to positioning Credit Unions as community centric financial institutions integral to their local communities, small businesses, and farmers.
From 1 April 2025, credit unions have been able to provide current account services to members in their capacity as a charity, club or society for purposes relating to the activities of the charity, club, or society only, if they choose to do so and subject to certain conditions being met.
Furthermore, other actions are being taken by Government to support sports and community initiatives. In August of this year, it was announced by Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan that More than €4 million in Dormant Accounts Funding is to be invested in community sports and physical activity initiatives.