Slane Shed hosts meeting of community groups with Central Bank

Slane Men's Shed hosted a meeting last week between between the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Colm Kincaid, and representatives of local community organisations, including Kentstown Irish Countrywomen’s Association and Kilmessan Men’s Shed.

"Public money that is put into community and voluntary groups is money well spent ’, Pat Doyle of Slane Men’s Shed told the gathering.

"For example, think of the money saved on healthcare through the work of organisations such as the Men’s Sheds, the ICA and many others. These and other groups provide constructive activities for many people who otherwise might be suffering from loneliness and depression and who might find themselves relying on the health services for support."

Mr Kincaid said that the Central Bank was interested in finding out first hand about the experiences of community groups in their dealings with financial institutions. To do that, he and his colleagues were meeting with a number of community groups in Meath. He gave the meeting an outline of the work that the Central Bank was doing to encourage financial institutions to be more responsive to client needs.

The community groups outlined the frustrations and difficulties they had in dealing with some of the main Irish banks. They highlighted the enormous amount of bureaucracy that they had to overcome.

Phillis Roe of Kentstown ICA outlined how they had to complete a 17-page form every time that they changed their officers, as well as having to all attend in person in the credit union.

Richard Farrelly of Kilmessan Men’s Shed said that it was ridiculous how certain vital grants such as those available through the LEADER programme were being reduced rather than increased by the Government. He said that it was becoming more difficult rather than easier to get a Men’s Shed building programme off the ground.

Pat Doyle outlined to the Central Bank visitors the work that had been done in the Slane area over recent years by community groups. "The impetus for these developments was very much from the ground up. A lot of support was forthcoming from public bodies such as Government Departments, Meath County Council, Louth Meath Education and Training Board, the HSE, and others. But much more support is needed as the negative impacts of the banking crisis, economic recession, and the Covid pandemic still blights many areas," he said.