The main aim of this study is to examine Irish credit unions in terms of the extent to which they contribute to financial inclusion. The study will place particular focus on examining the credit union loan product and will compare it with the product and service offered by moneylenders. Some research on moneylenders in Ireland has already been completed: Daly and Walsh (1988), Quinn and McCann (1997), Quinn and Ní Ghabhann (2004) and Conroy and O’Leary (2005).
In terms of the credit union, the authors are not aware of any research that examines Irish credit unions in terms of financial exclusion or inclusion. There is, however, growing interest in financial exclusion in Ireland, principally from the Irish Financial Regulatory Authority (IFSRA), with particular focus on financial literacy. Thus, this study, which brings credit unions and moneylenders into a discussion of financial exclusion and inclusion in Ireland, is both timely and relevant.