No contact with Kilcullen over CU motion by councillor

Kilcullen Credit Union has not been approached by a Sinn Fein councillor who has put down a motion for a Municipal District meeting this week suggesting that Kilcullen CU joins with CUs in Kildare Town, Coill Dubh, and Rathangan to provide services to Newbridge, writes Brian Byrne.

Cllr Mark Lynch is initiating the discussion at the Kildare/Newbridge MD, against a background of there being no Credit Union in Newbridge since the previous one was wound up and its accounts transferred to Permanent TSB.

But Kilcullen CU's Pat Stafford said today that no overtures had been made to Kilcullen by the councillor in advance of his motion.

This afternoon, in response to questions as to whether any of the Credit Unions had been approached by him, Cllr Lynch admitted that to date no discussion, decision or interest has been sought officially from any group or credit union. "Instead, this is an invitation to garnish the options of the owners of the Credit Union, the membership, to see if it is something they would be open to," he said. "I believe this could help strengthen local credit unions (if it is something they are interested in) and get CU services back to the people of Newbridge. This will hopefully be stage one of the process, but perhaps local credit unions will not be interested."

Last year, Naas Credit Union proposed that it extend its Common Bond area to include Newbridge, as a way of facilitating CU members in that area, but the proposal was roundly defeated at a meeting of Naas members.