Donegal Deputies Pat the Cope Gallagher and Pearse Doherty have both expressed serious concern about the planned closures of Ulster Bank branches in Raphoe and Ardara.
The TDs have both issues statements on the proposed closures which are part of a plan to shut 22 branches of the bank nationwide.
Deputy Doherty has today called on Ulster Bank to reverse its decision announced this week to close its branches in Ardara and Raphoe as part of the company’s latest round of branch closures across the state.
He said “I am extremely saddened to learn of the decision taken by Ulster Bank to shut its branches in Ardara and Raphoe.
“These planned closures will mean that residents and business owners in those towns will no longer have access to banking services locally should these closures go ahead, and this will obviously have a devastating impact on their local economies.
“While this is clearly a corporate decision which has been made by a private company, I would of course strongly urge Ulster Bank to reconsider its decision and to make every effort to keep both these branches open for the good of the local communities involved.
“Only three months ago in fact Sinn Féin questioned Ulster Bank over what plans if any the company had to close further branches, and the bank gave no indication then that further closures were imminent.
“I have today written to management at Ulster Bank asking that it rethinks these closures, and I have also requested that the bank will now agree to meet with the local communities involved to sit down with them and discuss the fate of its branches in Ardara and Raphoe in an effort to retain these vital services.
“I am willing to work with everyone to keep these important services open, and I look forward to working closely with both communities to do everything possible in the hope that these branches can remain open.”
Meanwhile Deputy Gallagher his is a very concerning development for the two towns of Ardara and Raphoe, as both communities depended solely on the Ulster Bank for all their banking services, as the closure will leave the two towns and their wider communities without any bank.
“This is another tangible sign of how much rural Ireland is being allowed to decline before the Government shouts stop , despite published action plans on rural development and strategies for jobs – nothing is actually happening on the ground to combat rural decline by this Government.
“I believe that the Ulster Bank have taken the easy option and have failed to consider the long term implications of their decision, whereby in the case of Raphoe; the entire border region from Carrigans to Lifford is now left without a Bank other than travelling to Ballybofey or Letterkenny.
“The entire border region of the Finn Valley area is left without a bank as a result of the Ulster Bank closure and that makes no economic or strategic sense and it is leaving a vast area and population of people without access to a bank.
“Similarly in the case of Ardara with the closure of the last remaining Bank in the town, it leaves the town without any banking service other than an ATM. The Ulster Bank in Ardara was very strategically located covering a vast rural area from Glencolumbkille to Glenties, and in the context of Ardara being a premier tourist destination notwithstanding the number of businesses in the area the closure is very difficult to comprehend.
“Personal and Business customers need in branch access in order to deal with requests, but most affected by this decision will be the older or elderly people within our communities as many always prefer to go in to branches to conduct their business – online or phone banking certainly is not an option by enlarge for them.”
He has now called on Ulster Bank to publish the rationale behind the decision to close both Ardara and Raphoe and to reconsider the move, to allow for a period of consultation with the two respective communities and during that period to place a stay on the closures.
“I will also be seeking a meeting with senior management of the Ulster Bank in order to put the local case for both banks as I personally believe that this is a very retrograde step and one which will have serious consequences for the future progress and development of both towns. Entire swathes of the county cannot be left without access to a bank branch or personal banking services. It’s unfair, and deeply debilitating to communities who rely so heavily on their services,” he added.
