National Employment Agency
While the National Housing Agency will deal with
housing individuals and families, the National
Employment Agency (NEA) will work with
Enterprise Ireland to create community
enterprises in cities, towns, and villages across
the country. It will be the task of the National
Employment Agency to encourage the self-
employed, small businesses, and cooperatives to
create socially strong and economically resilient
communities.
National State Bank
Now more than ever before the Irish people need a stable banking
system that they can rely on. Since the great financial crisis of 2008
both Fianna Fáil- and Fine Gael-led governments have pushed
austerity onto the poor and vulnerable so that they could protect
the wealthier classes. The financial sector of the economy has caused
the greatest expense to the Irish people, and yet the system itself
has been forcing families out of their homes, reduced more families
to rental-poverty, and raked in large profits at the same time.
The NSB would be given a ‘community purpose’ status, and therefore its
priority would be to develop local communities across the country, working with the
National Housing Agency and the National Employment Agency to identify
community needs for development and growth. The State Bank will be a non-profit
organisation that focuses on providing funds and security to a community banking
network. Any interest charged will be kept at 2% or lower (as agreed with the
A vibrant and expanded community banking
sector is a crucial part of reinvigorating business in
the regions. The government has for too long
ignored the potential of the credit union and post
office sector. If it doesn’t do something quickly,
these vital institutions could wither away.
Roisin Shortall TD